US20230057313A1 - Method for controlling medium processing apparatus, method for controlling recording system, post-procesing apparatus, and recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

A medium processing apparatus includes an intermediate stacker on which media recorded by a recording apparatus are stacked, the recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to media and a maintenance apparatus which performs maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the intermediate stacker. The medium processing apparatus executes the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is stacked on the intermediate stacker.

Description

• The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/779,856, filed Feb. 3, 2020, which is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2019-018075, filed Feb. 4, 2019, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
• The present disclosure relates to, in a recording system including a recording apparatus having a liquid ejection head which ejects liquid on a medium, such as a sheet, to perform recording and a maintenance section which performs maintenance on the liquid ejection head and a medium processing apparatus having a medium stacking section on which media supplied from the recording apparatus are stacked and a processor which performs processing on media stacked on the medium stacking section, a method for controlling the medium processing apparatus that controls the process in accordance with the maintenance, a method for controlling the recording system, the medium processing apparatus, and the recording system.
2. Related Art
• As an example of this type of recording system, an image processing apparatus including an image forming apparatus (an example of the recording apparatus) and a post-processing apparatus (an example of the medium processing apparatus) is disclosed in JP A-2014-54819. The image forming apparatus includes a sheet supply section, an image forming section, a maintenance section which automatically performs maintenance on the image forming section, and a controller which issues an instruction on a timing when the maintenance is to be performed to the maintenance section. Furthermore, the post-processing apparatus performs post-processing on sheets (an example of the medium) which have been subjected to the image formation and which have been successively discharged from a sheet discharge section. The controller issues an instruction for performing maintenance to the maintenance section utilizing a blank time in the post-processing operation in which a sheet which has been subjected to the image formation is not discharged from the sheet discharge section. The image processing apparatus performs the maintenance utilizing a blank time in the post-processing operation in which a sheet is not discharged from the image forming apparatus, and therefore, productivity of a recorded matter obtained by recording an image on a medium, such as a sheet, is improved.
• However, in the recording system, such as the image processing apparatus, disclosed in JP A-2014-54819, the maintenance and the post-processing are simultaneously started by the recording apparatus and the post-processing apparatus, respectively, and therefore, transport of the medium which has been subjected to recording is stopped while the maintenance and the post-processing are simultaneously performed. Such stop of transport of a medium which has been subjected to recording may cause inconvenience in productivity. For example, the stop of transport of a medium which has been subjected to recording causes a temporal loss due to deceleration at a time of the stop of the medium or acceleration at a time of start after the stop, and therefore, such a loss may deteriorate productivity of the recording system. Accordingly, improvement of productivity is demanded by performing processing utilizing a blank time while stop of transport of a recorded medium which may give an adverse effect to the productivity is avoided.
SUMMARY
• According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a medium processing apparatus includes a medium stacking section on which media recorded by a recording apparatus are stacked, the recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The method includes executing the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed is stacked on the medium stacking section.
• According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a recording system includes a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head and a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The method includes executing the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed is stacked on the medium stacking section.
• According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a recording system includes a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head and a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The method includes executing the maintenance in response to termination of the recording on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.
• According to a still further aspect of the present disclosure, a post-processing apparatus includes a medium stacking section on which media recorded by a recording apparatus are stacked, the recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, a processor configured to execute a process on the media received by the medium stacking section, and a controller configured to control operation of the processor. The controller executes the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed is stacked on the medium stacking section.
• According to a yet further aspect of the present disclosure, a recording system includes a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium, a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and a controller which controls operations of the maintenance section, and a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The controller executes the maintenance in response to termination of the recording on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG.1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a recording system including a post-processing apparatus according to an embodiment.
• FIG.2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus.
• FIG.3 is a side view illustrating a medium processing apparatus and peripherals in the post-processing apparatus.
• FIG.4 is a plan view of the medium processing apparatus and the peripherals.
• FIG.5 is a side view of the medium processing apparatus and the peripherals.
• FIG.6 is a perspective view of a portion of the medium processing apparatus which is used to illustrate an aligning process in a medium transport direction.
• FIG.7 is a perspective view of a portion of the medium processing apparatus which is used to illustrate an aligning process in a medium width direction.
• FIG.8 is a perspective view of a portion of the medium processing apparatus which is used to illustrate a medium bundle discharge process.
• FIG.9 is a block diagram illustrating an electric configuration of the recording system.
• FIG.10 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the recording system in a first mode.
• FIG.11 illustrates flowcharts of recording control and post-processing control in the first mode.
• FIG.12 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the recording system in a second mode.
• FIG.13 illustrates flowcharts of recording control and post-processing control in the second mode.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
• A recording system including a medium processing apparatus according to an embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The recording system performs a recording operation on a medium, such as a sheet, and a processing operation of performing processing on a plurality of stacked media which have been subjected to the recording operation.
• As illustrated inFIG.1, arecording system11 includes arecording apparatus13 which performs recording on amedium12, apost-processing apparatus14 which performs post-processing on the recordedmedium12, and anintermediate apparatus15 disposed between therecording apparatus13 and thepost-processing apparatus14. Therecording apparatus13 is an ink jet printer which prints characters and images by ejecting ink which is an example of liquid to themedium12, for example. Thepost-processing apparatus14 performs a stapling process of binding a plurality ofmedia12 and the like as the post-processing performed on the printedmedia12. Theintermediate apparatus15 reverses the recordedmedium12 which has been supplied from therecording apparatus13 in an inside thereof, and thereafter, discharges themedium12 to thepost-processing apparatus14. The post-processing performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 on themedium12 may be, instead of the stapling process, a punching process, a shift process, a saddle stitching process, folding process, or the like. Here, the punching process is performed to form punched holes on themedium12 in a unit of a predetermined number of media, and the shift process is performed to stack themedia12 on adischarge stacker35 in an alternately shifted manner in a unit of a predetermined number of media. The term “predetermined number of media” includes a single medium or a plurality of media.
• Therecording system11 further includes atransport path17 which extends from therecording apparatus13 through theintermediate apparatus15 to an inside of thepost-processing apparatus14 and which is indicated by a dashed two-dotted line. Each of therecording apparatus13 and theintermediate apparatus15 includes at least one pair oftransport rollers19 which transports themedium12 along thetransport path17 when atransport motor18 is driven. Furthermore, thepost-processing apparatus14 includes atransport mechanism30 which transports themedium12 supplied from theintermediate apparatus15. Thetransport mechanism30 includes pairs oftransport rollers19A and19B which transport themedium12 to an upper portion of anintermediate stacker32. Note that theintermediate apparatus15 includes thetransport motor18 which drives at least one pair oftransport rollers19.
• InFIG.1, a direction of gravity of therecording system11 in a state in which therecording system11 is disposed on a horizontal surface corresponds to a Z axis, and two axes which orthogonal to each other along a plane which intersects with the Z axis correspond to an X axis and a Y axis. The X, Y, and Z axes are preferably orthogonal to one another. In a description below, a direction in parallel to the X axis is also referred to as a width direction X, and a direction of the gravity which is in parallel to the Z axis is also referred to as a vertical direction Z. In addition, a direction which is orthogonal to the width direction X and which extends along thetransport path17 is referred to as a first transport direction Y0. The pairs oftransport rollers19,19A, and19B transport themedium12 in the first transport direction Y0 which is changed in accordance with a position of themedium12 transported in a direction from therecording apparatus13 to thepost-processing apparatus14.
• Acassette20 which accommodates themedia12 in a stacking state is detachably attached to therecording apparatus13. A plurality ofcassettes20 may be attached. Therecording apparatus13 includes apickup roller21 which transports one of themedia12 accommodated in thecassette20 which is disposed on a top and aseparation roller22 which separates themedia12 which are transported by thepickup roller21 from one to another.
• Therecording apparatus13 includes asupport section23 which is disposed in a position along thetransport path17 and which supports themedium12 and aliquid ejection head25 which is disposed in a position facing thesupport section23 with thetransport path17 therebetween. Theliquid ejection head25 hasnozzles24 use to perform recording by ejecting liquid to the medium12. Theliquid ejection head25 is a line head capable of simultaneously ejecting liquid over the medium12 in the width direction X. Note that theliquid ejection head25 may be a serial head which ejects liquid while being moved in the width direction X.
• Therecording apparatus13 includes adischarge path101 which discharges the medium12, a switch-back path102 which transports the medium12 in a switch-back manner, and areverse path103 in which an orientation of the medium12 is reversed, as portions of thetransport path17. The medium12 which has been subjected to recording by theliquid ejection head25 is discharged through thedischarge path101 to adischarge section104.
• When both-side printing is performed, the medium12 having a printed side surface is transported to the switch-back path102 and further transported in a reversed direction from the switch-back path102 to thereverse path103. The medium12 reversed in thereverse path103 is supplied to theliquid ejection head25 again, and theliquid ejection head25 performs printing on a surface opposite to the printed surface. In this way, therecording apparatus13 performs the both-side printing on the medium12. Therecording apparatus13 transports the printedmedium12 to thedischarge section104 or theintermediate apparatus15.
• Theintermediate apparatus15 includes areverse processing section200 which reverses the printedmedium12 supplied from therecording apparatus13 and discharges the medium12 to thepost-processing apparatus14. Thereverse processing section200 includes aninput path201, a first switch-back path202, a second switch-back path203, a first joiningpath204, a second joiningpath205, and anoutput path206 as portions of thetransport path17. Furthermore, thereverse processing section200 includes a plurality of pairs of transport rollers19 (only one of the pairs oftransport rollers19 is illustrated) which are used to transport the medium12 along thepaths201 to206 and flaps, not illustrated, which guide the medium12 to one of transport destinations in branching portions of thepaths201 to203. The transport destinations, that is, the first switch-back path202 and the second switch-back path203, of the medium12 supplied from theinput path201 are switched from one to another by a corresponding one of the flaps.
• The medium12 which is transported to the first switch-back path202 is switched back in the first switch-back path202 and reversed in the first joiningpath204 before being transported to theoutput path206. On the other hand, the medium12 transported from theinput path201 to the second switch-back path203 is switched back in the second switch-back path203 and reversed in the second joiningpath205 before being transported to theoutput path206. By this, the medium12 is output to thepost-processing apparatus14 from theintermediate apparatus15 through theoutput path206 such that one of the surfaces of the medium12 which has been subjected to printing performed by therecording apparatus13 immediately before the output faces downward. Furthermore, since the medium12 is transported in theintermediate apparatus15, a drying time is ensured, and therefore, curl of the medium12 caused by moisture of liquid attached to the medium12 may be suppressed.
• Next, an embodiment of thepost-processing apparatus14 will be described.
• As illustrated inFIG.1, thepost-processing apparatus14 includes thetransport mechanism30 described above which supplies the medium12 which has been subjected to the reverse processing performed by thereverse processing section200 and discharged from thereverse processing section200 to an inside of acase14A and which transports the suppliedmedium12. Thepost-processing apparatus14 further includes amedium processing apparatus31 having theintermediate stacker32 which is an example of a medium stacking section on which themedia12 which have been subjected to the recording performed by therecording apparatus13 are stacked and apost-processing mechanism33 which is included in a processor which performs the post-processing as an example of the processing on themedia12 which are received by theintermediate stacker32. Themedium processing apparatus31 aligns themedia12 supplied from thetransport mechanism30 and received by theintermediate stacker32 and performs the post-processing on the stackedmedia12 where appropriate. Theintermediate stacker32 receives the recordedmedia12 supplied from therecording apparatus13. Furthermore, in this example, themedia12 which are received by theintermediate stacker32 have been subjected to recording performed by theliquid ejection head25 before reaching themedium processing apparatus31.
• Thetransport mechanism30 includes the pair oftransport rollers19A for supplying the medium12 discharged from theintermediate apparatus15 and the pair oftransport rollers19B for discharging the supplied medium12 to themedium processing apparatus31. Asensor34 which detects the medium12 transported by thetransport mechanism30 is disposed in a position in the vicinity of thetransport mechanism30.
• Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.1, thepost-processing apparatus14 includes thedischarge stacker35 on which themedia12 discharged from theintermediate stacker32 are stacked. Thedischarge stacker35 outwardly extends from a side surface of thecase14A of thepost-processing apparatus14. Thedischarge stacker35 is capable of being moved upward and downward along the side surface of thecase14A. Thedischarge stacker35 moves downward as a stacking amount of themedia12 is increased so as to receive themedia12 discharged from themedium processing apparatus31 based on a result of detection performed by a detection section, not illustrated, which detects a height of the stackedmedia12.
• As illustrated inFIG.1, themedium processing apparatus31 includes adischarge mechanism36 included in the processor which performs a discharge operation of discharging the medium12 to thedischarge stacker35 as an example of processing performed on themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32. Thedischarge mechanism36 of this embodiment employs a roller transport method using a pair of transport rollers. Note that, instead of the roller transport method, thedischarge mechanism36 may employ a push method using a pusher, not illustrated, to discharge themedia12 on theintermediate stacker32 to thedischarge stacker35 by pushing themedia12 from theintermediate stacker32.
• Furthermore, themedium processing apparatus31 includes amedium support member37 which supports a leading end portion of the medium12 received by theintermediate stacker32 in a discharge direction and a first aligningmember38 which performs an aligning operation of aligning ends of the plurality ofmedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32. Themedium support member37 is positioned vertically over thedischarge stacker35 and has a function of temporarily supporting themedia12 discharged from theintermediate stacker32.
• Next, a configuration of therecording apparatus13 will be described in detail with reference toFIG.2. As illustrated inFIG.2, therecording apparatus13 includes theliquid ejection head25 including thenozzles24 which eject liquid, a holdingsection26 which holds theliquid ejection head25, and asupply path28 which supplies liquid accommodated inliquid accommodation bodies27 to theliquid ejection head25. Theliquid ejection head25 of this embodiment is the line head described above which performs printing in a range spreading over the width of the medium12. Furthermore, a position where theliquid ejection head25 ejects liquid in thetransport path17 is referred to as a recording position.
• In this embodiment, thesupport section23 includes a transport belt29 which supports the medium12 in the recording position. The transport belt29 transports the medium12 in a predetermined transport speed while supporting the medium12 in the recording position. The transport belt29 is retracted to a retracting position denoted by a dashed two-dotted line inFIG.2 from a support position denoted by a solid line inFIG.2 when maintenance is performed on theliquid ejection head25. Specifically, the transport belt29 pivots using an upstream end portion thereof in the first transport direction Y0 at the center, supports the medium12 in the recording position which faces theliquid ejection head25, and is retracted to a position which does not face theliquid ejection head25 in the retracting position.
• Therecording apparatus13 includes amaintenance apparatus61 as an example of the maintenance section which performs maintenance on theliquid ejection head25. Themaintenance apparatus61 includes acap62, awaste liquid path63 coupled to thecap62, asuction pump64 disposed in a portion of thewaste liquid path63, amovement mechanism65 which moves thecap62, and awiping apparatus67 which wipes theliquid ejection head25. Then, in therecording apparatus13, themaintenance apparatus61 performs a maintenance operation, such as flushing for discharging liquid which does not relate to the recording from thenozzles24 or cleaning for forcibly discharging liquid from thenozzles24 so that ejection failure of theliquid ejection head25 is suppressed or reduced.
• In themovement mechanism65, thecap62 is moved in a range between the retracting position indicated by a solid line inFIG.2 and a capping position indicated by a dashed two-dotted line inFIG.2 which is adjacent to theliquid ejection head25. Thecap62 enters a capping state when being moved in the capping position. In the capping state, thecap62 forms a closed space in which thenozzles24 are closed. When theliquid ejection head25 does not discharge liquid, the capping is performed so that thenozzles24 are hardly dried. In this way, ejection failure is suppressed.
• Furthermore, therecording apparatus13 retracts thesupport section23 from the support position to the retracting position at a predetermined timing during the recording, and moves thecap62 from the retracting position to the capping position before performing the flushing for ejecting liquid which does not relate to the recording from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 toward thecap62. Here, the predetermined timing corresponding to a timing when a predetermined flushing interval time elapsed after a preceding flushing operation.
• Here, theliquid ejection head25 has a predetermined number ofnozzles24 in a range from 100 nozzles to several tens of thousands of nozzles for different liquid types, such as different ink colors, and viscosity of the ink in thenozzles24 which are not used, that is, which do not eject liquid, during the recording is gradually increased. When the flushing is performed, the viscous ink included in thenozzles24 is discharged so that clogging of thenozzles24 is suppressed. During the maintenance, the recording may not be performed since thesupport section23 is retracted, and therefore, the maintenance is performed at a timing between themedia12, that is, between pages. Therecording apparatus13 further includes afirst controller110 which controls theentire recording apparatus13. Thefirst controller110 manages a timing when the maintenance is performed in terms of time, for example. The flushing is performed with the predetermined flushing interval time during the recording.
• Furthermore, when thesuction pump64 is driven so that negative pressure is applied to thenozzles24 while thecap62 is disposed in the capping position, suction cleaning of forcibly sucking and discharging liquid from theliquid ejection head25 through thenozzles24 by the negative pressure is executed. The liquid discharged by the suction cleaning is accommodated in awaste liquid container66 through thewaste liquid path63 as waste liquid. Furthermore, themaintenance apparatus61 includes the wipingapparatus67 having a wiping member (not illustrated) capable of wiping an opening surface of theliquid ejection head25 on which thenozzles24 are opened. In this embodiment, the wipingapparatus67 is included in themaintenance apparatus61. The wipingapparatus67 performs a wiping operation of wiping the opening surface using the wiping member after an ejection operation or cleaning. The cleaning includes the wiping and the flushing performed after the suction cleaning.
• The timing when the cleaning is performed may be managed in terms of time or may be managed by a result of nozzle inspection performed during recording. In the case of the time management, the cleaning is performed with a predetermined cleaning interval time. The cleaning interval time is sufficiently longer than the flushing interval time.
• Furthermore, therecording apparatus13 may include a nozzle inspection apparatus70 (refer toFIG.9) which inspects thenozzles24 during the recording. Thefirst controller110 determines that the cleaning time is entered when one or a predetermined number of thenozzles24 are determined as ejection failure as a result of nozzle inspection performed by thenozzle inspection apparatus70. When the cleaning time is entered during recording, thefirst controller110 retracts thesupport section23 from the support position to the retracting position and moves thecap62 from the retracting position to the capping position before driving thesuction pump64 so as to forcibly suck and discharge liquid from thenozzles24 in the suction cleaning.
• When the maintenance is performed, thesupport section23 which supports the medium12 which is a recording target is retracted from the support position which faces theliquid ejection head25 to the retracting position which does not face theliquid ejection head25, and therefore, theliquid ejection head25 may not perform a recording operation. Furthermore, a predetermined period of time is required for a movement of thesupport section23 to the retracting position and a movement of thecap62 to the capping position in the maintenance. Therefore, since the recording operation is interrupted in the maintenance, transport of the recordedmedium12 is interrupted before the medium12 reaches thepost-processing apparatus14 on a downstream side. Specifically, the recording operation is not performed due to the maintenance, and the recorded medium12 may not be transported on the downstream side, that is, blank of recording occurs. The blank of recording further causes blank of the medium12 to be received by theintermediate stacker32 for a certain period of time after the medium12 which has been subjected to the recording last before the maintenance reaches theintermediate stacker32.
• Next, a configuration of themedium processing apparatus31 will be described in detail with reference toFIGS.3 to8.
• As illustrated inFIG.3, themedium processing apparatus31 includes theintermediate stacker32, thedischarge mechanism36, themedium support member37, and the first aligningmember38 described above. Theintermediate stacker32 has a stackingsurface32A on which the receivedmedia12 are stacked. The stackingsurface32A is a slant surface configured such that an upstream end in the first transport direction Y0 is lower than a downstream end in the vertical direction Z. Themedium processing apparatus31 further includes areception mechanism41 which changes a path of the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 in a predetermined discharge speed to a path along the stackingsurface32A of theintermediate stacker32 as another component. Thereception mechanism41 includes amovable guide42 which operates such that themovable guide42 knocks down the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 in the predetermined discharge speed. As illustrated inFIG.5, thereception mechanism41 causes themovable guide42 to knock down the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 so as to guide the medium12 to theintermediate stacker32. Specifically, thereception mechanism41 performs a portion of a reception operation of receiving the medium12 by theintermediate stacker32.
• Furthermore, as illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, themedium processing apparatus31 includes asupply mechanism43 which supplies the medium12 to a changed path in a second direction Y2 which is opposite to a first direction Y1 along the stackingsurface32A after operation of thereception mechanism41 is started. Thesupply mechanism43 includes first andsecond paddles45 and46 which are in contact with the medium12 while being rotated so as to apply a transport force in the second direction Y2. In the two types ofpuddles45 and46, thefirst paddle45 positioned on the downstream side in the transport direction Y1 has a function of receiving the medium12 onto the stackingsurface32A by rotation of thefirst puddle45.
• As illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, theintermediate stacker32 has amedium abutting portion47 which aligns themedia12 in the transport direction Y1 by causing trailing ends12rof themedia12 which have been received on the stackingsurface32A to abut on themedium abutting portions47. Themedium abutting portion47 has a plane portion which extends upward in a predetermined shape from a downstream end portion of theintermediate stacker32 in the second direction Y2 and which is orthogonal to the stackingsurface32A in a side view ofFIGS.3 and5. Thepuddles45 and46 described above apply force to themedia12 on theintermediate stacker32 in a direction toward themedium abutting portion47. Note that the direction for aligning themedia12 which are received by theintermediate stacker32 and which abut on themedium abutting portion47 is also referred to as a “transport direction Y1”.
• When the trailingend12r, which is a downstream end in the second direction Y2, of the medium12 transmitted in the second direction Y2 by thesupply mechanism43 abuts on themedium abutting portion47, the medium12 is positioned in the transport direction Y1 using a position of the abutting as a reference. As illustrated inFIG.4, a plurality ofmedium abutting portions47 are disposed in the width direction X with a certain gap. The gap between the plurality ofmedium abutting portions47 is set such that a medium12 having the smallest width may abut in a plurality of portions.
• As illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, themedium processing apparatus31 includes a first aligningmechanism51 which aligns themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 in the transport direction Y and a second aligningmechanism52 which aligns themedia12 in the width direction X. The first aligningmechanism51 includes along support frame53 which extends upward relative to thedischarge stacker35 in the first direction Y1, the first aligningmember38 described above which is capable of reciprocating in the first direction Y1 along a lower surface of thesupport frame53, and themedium abutting portions47. The first aligningmember38 moves over thedischarge stacker35 in the transport direction Y1. Furthermore, the second aligningmechanism52 includes a pair of second aligningmembers54 which are capable of moving in the width direction X along the stackingsurface32A of theintermediate stacker32. Note that, as illustrated inFIG.3, thedischarge stacker35 has a recessedportion35B on a stackingsurface35A so that contact with the first aligningmember38 is avoided.
• As illustrated inFIG.4, theintermediate stacker32 has a predetermined length which is longer than a width of the medium12 having the largest width in the width direction X. A center position of theintermediate stacker32 in the width direction X corresponds to a center of a width of the medium12 received on theintermediate stacker32A. Themovable guide42 is positioned in an upper portion of a center of a width of theintermediate stacker32. As illustrated inFIG.5, themovable guide42 knocks off a center portion of the medium12 in the width direction X discharged from thetransport mechanism30 so as to change a path of the medium12. Note that a plurality ofmovable guides42 may be disposed in different positions in the width direction X. In this case, themovable guide42 positioned in the center portion is operated when the medium12 of a small size including a minimum width is used and the plurality ofmovable guides42 are operated when the medium12 of a large size having a predetermined width or more is used.
• Themovable guide42 illustrated inFIG.5 is positioned in a downstream end in the first transport direction Y0 and pivots within a predetermined angle range with apivot shaft42A at the center. Themovable guide42 pivots in a range between a waiting position denoted by a dashed two-dotted line inFIG.5 and an operation position denoted by a solid line inFIG.5 which is reached when themovable guide42 pivots in a clockwise direction inFIG.5 at a predetermined angle from the waiting position. Atip end42B of themovable guide42 in the waiting position is located in the vicinity of an upper portion of a discharge port of the pair oftransport rollers19B. Themovable guide42 pivots from the waiting position to the operation position so as to knock off the center portion of the width of the medium12 discharged from the pair oftransport rollers19B of thetransport mechanism30 and guides the medium12 to the stackingsurface32A of theintermediate stacker32 which is a reception destination of the medium12.
• As illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, themedium processing apparatus31 includes amedium support mechanism55 having a pair ofmedium support members37. Themedium support member37 supports tip ends of themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32. Themedium support mechanism55 moves the pair ofmedium support members37 in the width direction X. As illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, the pair ofmedium support members37 includes support surfaces37A which support a lower surface of the medium12 and guidesurfaces37B which guide side ends of the medium12.
• The support surfaces37A extend in the first direction Y1 in a position which is the same height of a virtual surface formed by extending the stackingsurface32A of theintermediate stacker32 in the first direction Y1 or a position slightly lower than the virtual surface. As illustrated inFIG.4, the pair ofmedium support members37 move in the width direction X in a position between a holding position indicated by a solid line inFIG.4 where the medium12 may be held by the pair ofsupport surfaces37A and a retracting position indicated by a dashed two-dotted line inFIG.4 where the medium12 may not be held by the pair of support surfaces37A, for example. As illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, in a state in which the pair ofmedium support members37 is disposed in the support position, tip end portions of themedia12 which are received by theintermediate stacker32 are supported by the pair ofsupport surfaces37A and shifts in the width direction X among themedia12 fall within a tolerance range by the pair of guide surfaces37B.
• Note that, in this embodiment, the pair ofmedium support members37 and the pair of second aligningmembers54 are moved in the width direction X in synchronization with each other when shift is performed as the post-processing.
• As illustrated inFIG.4, the pair offirst puddles45 is fixed to arotation shaft48 which is positioned in an upper portion in theintermediate stacker32, which extends in the width direction X, and which is axially supported. The twofirst puddles45 are disposed with a predetermined gap (a first gap) in the width direction X. The pair offirst puddles45 may be in contact with the medium12 of a large size having a width equal to or larger than a predetermined size at two portions in the width direction X. On the other hand, thesecond puddles46 are fixed to arotation shaft49 which is positioned in an upper portion in theintermediate stacker32, which extends in the width direction X in a downstream position relative to therotation shaft48 in a second direction Y2, and which is axially supported. The twosecond puddles46 are disposed with a second gap which is smaller than the first gap between the twofirst puddles45 in the width direction X. The pair ofsecond puddles46 may also be in contact with the medium12 of a small size having a width equal to or smaller than the predetermined size at two portions in the width direction X.
• Therotation shaft48 illustrated inFIG.4 is coupled to an electric motor (not illustrated) which is a driving source through a belt-type power transmission mechanism (not illustrated), for example, so that power is transmittable. Furthermore, therotation shaft49 is coupled to an electric motor (not illustrated) which is a driving source through a belt-type power transmission mechanism (not illustrated), for example, so that power is transmittable. Therefore, thefirst puddles45 and thesecond puddles46 are independently driven.
• Each of thefirst puddles45 includes a plurality ofblades45A having a length which reaches the stackingsurface32A. Furthermore, each of the second puddles46 includes a plurality ofblades46A having a length which reaches the stackingsurface32A. Theblades45A are longer than theblades46A. The first andsecond puddles45 and46 rotate in a counter-clockwise direction inFIG.5 so as to perform an operation of transporting the medium12 in a path changed by the pivot of themovable guide42 such that the trailingend12rabuts on themedium abutting portions47. Specifically, the medium12 of the large size is transported in the second direction Y2 by the two types of puddles, that is, thelarge paddles45 and the small puddles46. The medium12 of a small size is transported in the second direction Y2 by the second puddles46. By this, the medium12 received by theintermediate stacker32 returns in the second direction Y2 toward themedium abutting portions47.
• As illustrated inFIG.4, the first aligningmechanism51 includes the first aligningmember38, twoguide shafts56 which guide the first aligningmember38 in a movable manner, anelectric motor57 serving as a driving source, and apower transmission mechanism58 which transmits driving force of theelectric motor57 to the first aligningmember38. Theelectric motor57 and thepower transmission mechanism58 are assembled in thelong support frame53. Thepower transmission mechanism58 includes atiming belt59 wound in a pair of pulleys (not illustrated). The first aligningmember38 is fixed in a portion of thetiming belt59. When theelectric motor57 performs forward/reverse driving, the first aligningmember38 reciprocates in the transport direction Y1 along aguide groove53A of thesupport frame53.
• As illustrated inFIGS.3 and4, the first aligningmember38 is disposed in a movable manner in a position between a first position P1 where an aligning operation is performed on themedia12 on theintermediate stacker32 and a second position P2 which is separated from atip end12fof the medium12 relative to the first position P1. The first aligningmember38 has a function of pushing themedia12 on theintermediate stacker32 until the trailing ends12rof themedia12 abut on themedium abutting portions47. When themedia12 are discharged from thetransport mechanism30, the first aligningmember38 is located in the second position P2. Note that the first position P1 and the second position P2 of the first aligningmember38 may be changed depending on a size of the medium12.
• InFIG.3, a position where the medium12 transported in a path changed due to the operation of thereception mechanism41 reaches a most downstream side is denoted by a dashed two-dotted line. The second position P2 is located where thetip end12fof the medium12 denoted by the dashed two-dotted line is not in contact with an aligningsurface38A. Therefore, thetip end12fof the medium12 discharged from the pair oftransport rollers19B is normally not in contact with the first aligningmember38 located in the second position P2 but is in contact with the first aligningmember38 only when the medium12 is swiftly discharged. By this, the dischargedmedium12 may not be unnecessarily supplied to a deep portion on the downstream side in the first transport direction Y0.
• The medium12 which is received by the stackingsurface32A is denoted by a solid line inFIGS.3 and6, and the medium12 received by the stackingsurface32A is denoted by a dashed two-dotted line inFIG.4. The first aligningmember38 is moved to the first position P1 (refer toFIG.6) from the second position P2 illustrated inFIGS.3 and4 to be contact with thetip end12fof the medium12 so that the trailingend12rof the medium12 abuts on themedium abutting portions47 with reliability. Specifically, the first aligningmember38 performs the first aligning operation of aligning themedia12 in the transport direction Y1 by sandwiching themedia12 between the first aligningmember38 and themedium abutting portions47 in the first direction Y1. As illustrated inFIG.5, the first aligningmember38 smashes the tip ends12fof themedia12 by the aligningsurface38A so that themedia12 are aligned in the transport direction Y1.
• The second aligningmechanism52 includes two electric motors (not illustrated) which are driving sources which individually drive the two second aligningmembers54 which align themedia12 on theintermediate stacker32 in the width direction X. The pair of second aligningmembers54 performs a second aligning operation of aligning themedia12 in the width direction X.
• The pair of second aligningmembers54 has a function of moving in the width direction X while a gap between the second aligningmembers54 is maintained and a function of changing the gap in the width direction X. As illustrated inFIG.7, the second aligningmembers54 have respective aligningsurfaces54A which face each other in the width direction X. The pair of second aligningmembers54 performs the second aligning operation of aligning themedia12 in the width direction X by bringing the aligningsurfaces54A into contact with side ends12sof themedia12 in the width direction X when the pair of second aligningmembers54 is moved from a retracting position to an aligning position where the gap is narrowed in the width direction X. The aligning position of the pair of second aligningmembers54 is determined in accordance with a width of themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32. The gap between the two aligningsurfaces54A is equal to a width size of themedia12 when the pair of second aligningmembers54 is in the aligning position. The pair of second aligningmembers54 aligns themedia12 in the width direction X by patting the side ends12swhile themedia12 are sandwiched by the second aligningmembers54 in the width direction X in accordance with a size of themedia12 in a range from the maximum width to the minimum width. As illustrated inFIG.7, themedia12 are aligned in the width direction X when the pair of the aligningsurfaces54A of the pair of second aligningmembers54 pats the both side ends12sof themedia12 in the width direction X.
• In this embodiment, the aligning operation includes the first and second aligning operations to be performed to align themedia12 in the two directions. Note that the aligning operation may include only the first aligning operation or only the second aligning operation.
• As illustrated inFIG.4, thepost-processing mechanism33 is moved along aguide groove39A on astage member39 so as to perform post-processing including flat stapling and oblique stapling on predetermined portions in any size of themedia12. Note that thepost-processing mechanism33 may have a function of a “punching process” and a “saddle stitching process” in addition to or instead of the “stapling process”.
• A discharge operation will now be described with reference toFIG.8. As illustrated inFIG.8, thedischarge mechanism36 includes a pair of rollers, that is, a pair of a drivingroller36A and a driven roller36B which are capable of pinching amedium bundle12B on theintermediate stacker32. In this embodiment, the driven roller36B is axially supported by a base end portion of themovable guide42. The driven roller36B is moved between a separation position (a release position) illustrated inFIG.5 which is separated from the drivingroller36A and a nip position illustrated inFIG.8 where the medium12 or themedium bundle12B is nipped with the drivingroller36A.
• The movement of the driven roller36B between the nip position and the separation position may be performed when themovable guide42 pivots with a position in the vicinity of thetip end42B of themovable guide42 as a pivot support point so as to change an orientation of themovable guide42. The driven roller36B is biased by a spring, not illustrated, in a direction toward the drivingroller36A.
• The number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 is changed in accordance with the set number of media included in information on conditions for the post-processing set by the user. Therefore, a thickness of themedium bundle12B subjected to the post-processing is changed in accordance with the set number ofmedia12 to be subjected to the post-processing. When the driven roller36B is moved in the nip position in a state in which themedia12 is stacked on theintermediate stacker32, themedium bundle12B is nipped between the drivingroller36A and the driven roller36B. Themedium bundle12B is discharged in the first direction Y1 when thedischarge mechanism36 is driven so that therollers36A and36B which nip themedium bundle12B are rotated. Themedium bundle12B is supported by the pair ofmedium support members37 until a certain point in the discharge operation before dropping onto thedischarge stacker35 when the pair ofmedium support members37 enlarges a gap therebetween. Thedischarge stacker35 has the stackingsurface35A having a slope surface having a base end portion lower than a tip end portion in the vertical direction Z. Themedium bundle12B discharged to thedischarge stacker35 slips on the stackingsurface35A or an upper surface of a precedingmedium bundle12B stacked immediately before on the stackingsurface35A so that the trailing ends12rabut on a standingwall14B. In this way, themedium bundle12B is stacked on the stackingsurface35A in a state in which themedium bundle12B aligns in the transport direction Y1.
• The discharge operation includes a discharge operation of discharging themedium bundle12B at a predetermined timing without the post-processing and a discharge operation of discharging themedium bundle12B at a timing immediately after the post-processing performed every time a set number ofmedia12 are stacked.
• The pair ofmedium support members37 supports the tip end portions of themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 so as to suppress hanging down of the tip end portions. Therefore, if the tip end portions are hung down when themedium bundle12B which is a block of a predetermined number of media12 (refer toFIG.8) which are stacked on theintermediate stacker32 is discharged, the tip end portions may be reeled into an inside and folded. The pair ofmedium support members37 is provided to suppress the hanging down of the tip end portions which causes such fold. The pair ofmedium support members37 holds themedia12 until a certain point of the process of discharging themedia12 from theintermediate stacker32 before being retracted to a retracting position where themedia12 may not be supported in the width direction X so that themedium bundle12B drops onto thedischarge stacker35. Therefore, discharge of themedia12 from theintermediate stacker32 in a state in which the tip end portions of themedium bundle12B are in contact with the stackingsurface35A is suppressed and the reeling of the tip end portions of themedium bundle12B is suppressed.
• Here, the post-processing performed on themedium bundle12B formed by the plurality ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 is not limited to the stapling process. For example, the shift process is realized by a function of moving the pair ofmedium support members37 and the pair of second aligningmembers54 in the width direction X while the gaps thereof in the width direction X are maintained when the pair ofmedium support members37 and the pair of second aligningmembers54 hold themedia12. Specifically, when the shift process is instructed, the pair ofmedium support members37 and the pair of second aligningmembers54 which hold themedium bundle12B are shifted in the width direction X by a predetermined shift amount. Here, although the “stapling process”, the “saddle stitching process” and the like are post-processing to be performed every a target number of media, in a “normal stacking process” and the “shift process”, the media may be discharged before the target number of media is reached on theintermediate stacker32 as long as the media may be stacked on thedischarge stacker35 in a predetermined stacking method. For example, in the shift process performed every 50 sheets, 20 sheets in the 50 sheets, for example, may be first discharged, and thereafter, the remaining 30 sheets, for example, may be discharged in the same shift position.
• In this way, in the “normal stacking process” and the “shift process”, the discharge operation may be performed before the target number of sheets is reached. Specifically, the discharge operation which is an example of a process may be performed when the maintenance is performed. This is control in the first mode performed by thefirst controller110 and a second controller120 (refer toFIG.9).
• On the other hand, in the “stapling process” and the “saddle stitching process”, the post-processing and the discharge operation as processes are required to be performed every a target number of media. Therefore, a timing of the process does not match a timing of the maintenance, and accordingly, a timing when the maintenance is to be performed is determined in accordance with the timing of the process including the post-processing and the discharge operation. This is control in the second mode performed by thefirst controller110 and the second controller120 (refer toFIG.9).
• In this embodiment, thepost-processing mechanism33 which performs the stapling process as an example of the post-processing serves as an example of the processor. Furthermore, thedischarge mechanism36 which performs the discharge operation which is a part of the process may be an example of the processor. Specifically, the processor includes thedischarge mechanism36 which discharges themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 to an outside of theintermediate stacker32. Furthermore, themedium support member37 and the second aligningmembers54 which perform the shift process as the post-processing are parts of the processor. In this case, thedischarge mechanism36 included in the processor performs a process of discharging themedium bundle12B after bar-stacking. Furthermore, themedium support members37 and the second aligningmembers54 included in the processor perform a process of discharging themedium bundle12B during shifting. Furthermore, thepost-processing mechanism33 may replace the stapling process by the punching process, the saddle stitching process, a folding process, or other processes, or may add other functions to the function of the stapling process. Then the processor executes the processes on themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32. Note that the processor includes a post-processing mechanism which executes the post-processing on a block of themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32. The post-processing performed by the post-processing mechanism includes at least one of the stapling process, the punching process, the shift process, the saddle stitching process, and the folding process.
• Next, an electric configuration of therecording system11 will be described with reference toFIG.9.
• As illustrated inFIG.9, therecording system11 includes thefirst controller110 as an example of a controller included in therecording apparatus13 and thesecond controller120 as an example of a controller included in thepost-processing apparatus14. Thefirst controller110 controls the components of therecording apparatus13 and theintermediate apparatus15. Furthermore, thesecond controller120 controls the components of thepost-processing apparatus14. Specifically, thesecond controller120 controls operations of processors included in themedium processing apparatus31. Thefirst controller110 and thesecond controller120 are coupled to each other through a communication cable (not illustrated) in a bidirectional-communication available manner. Note that thefirst controller110 and thesecond controller120 may be configured in a wireless-communication available manner.
• Thefirst controller110 receives print data PD from a host apparatus150, for example. The print data PD includes image data of a CMYK color system, for example, which defines print condition information and print content. The print condition information includes information on a medium size, a medium type, setting or non-setting of both-side printing, a print color, print quality, the total number of printed sheets, and post-processing condition information. The post-processing condition information includes content and the number of media for one post-processing.
• As illustrated inFIG.9, thefirst controller110 transmits control signals to theliquid ejection head25, atransport section100, themaintenance apparatus61, thenozzle inspection apparatus70, and theintermediate apparatus15. By this, thefirst controller110 controls operations of theliquid ejection head25, thetransport section100, themaintenance apparatus61, thenozzle inspection apparatus70, and theintermediate apparatus15.
• Thefirst controller110 periodically performs maintenance in a certain time point during a recording operation. As the maintenance performed by themaintenance apparatus61, preliminary ejection is performed to discharge liquid which does not relate to recording from theliquid ejection head25. In this case, thefirst controller110 controls thesupport section23 and themaintenance apparatus61 so as to move thesupport section23 to the retracting position and move thecap62 to the capping position. Thereafter, thefirst controller110 controls theliquid ejection head25 so as to execute the preliminary ejection of discharging liquid which does not relate to recording from theliquid ejection head25. The liquid discharged by the preliminary ejection is received by thecap62. In this point, theliquid ejection head25 which performs the preliminary ejection is also included in the maintenance section. Here, the preliminary ejection is also referred to as “flushing” in this specification. The flushing is executed in a flushing time TF which is set in advance. Specifically, the maintenance time when the flushing is executed as the maintenance corresponds to the flushing time TF.
• Furthermore, thefirst controller110 executes cleaning which is an operation of forcibly discharging liquid from theliquid ejection head25 as the maintenance performed by themaintenance apparatus61. In this case, thefirst controller110 controls thesupport section23 and themaintenance apparatus61 so as to move thesupport section23 to a retracting position and move thecap62 to the capping position. Then thefirst controller110 forcibly discharges liquid from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 by driving thesuction pump64 so that a closed space surrounded by a nozzle opening surface on which thenozzles24 are opened in theliquid ejection head25 and thecap62 has negative pressure. The liquid discharged into thecap62 is collected by thewaste liquid container66 through thewaste liquid path63. Here, the cleaning is performed in a cleaning time TC which is set in advance. Specifically, the maintenance time when the cleaning is executed as the maintenance corresponds to the cleaning time TC. The cleaning time TC is sufficiently longer than the flushing time TF.
• Thesensor34 is electrically coupled to thesecond controller120. Thesensor34 detects the medium12 and outputs a detection signal. Thefirst controller110 detects thetip end12fof the medium12 when a non-detection state in which thesensor34 does not detect the medium12 is changed to a detection state in which thesensor34 detects the medium12. Furthermore, thefirst controller110 detects the trailingend12rof the medium12 when the detection state in which thesensor34 detects the medium12 is changed to the non-detection state in which thesensor34 does not detect the medium12.
• Thesecond controller120 transmits control signals to thetransport mechanism30, thereception mechanism41, thesupply mechanism43, the first aligningmechanism51, the second aligningmechanism52, themedium support mechanism55, thepost-processing mechanism33, and thedischarge mechanism36. By this, thesecond controller120 controls operations of themechanism30,33,36,41,43,51,52, and55.
• Furthermore, thefirst controller110 illustrated inFIG.9 includes a computer, not illustrated. Thefirst controller110 includes atimer111, afirst counter112, and afirst memory113 in the computer. Thetimer111 counts an elapsed time T from a time point when preceding maintenance is performed. Specifically, thetimer111 counts two types of elapsed time, that is, an elapsed time T from a time point when preceding flushing is performed and an elapsed time T from a time point when preceding cleaning is performed. Thefirst controller110 determines whether the flushing time has reached and whether the cleaning time has reached based on the elapsed times T counted by thetimer111. Furthermore, thefirst counter112 controlled by thefirst controller110 counts the number of media recorded by theliquid ejection head25 from a predetermined time in therecording apparatus13. The predetermined time is a time when preceding maintenance is performed, for example, and thefirst counter112 counts the number of recorded media until a time when next maintenance is performed. Thememory113 stores a first program PR1 including a program of a first mode control routine illustrated in a flowchart ofFIG.11 and a program of a second mode control routine illustrated in a flowchart ofFIG.13.
• Furthermore, thesecond controller120 illustrated inFIG.9 includes a computer, not illustrated. Thefirst controller120 includes asecond counter121 and asecond memory122 in the computer. Thesecond counter121 controlled by thesecond controller120 counts the number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 of thepost-processing apparatus14. Thesecond controller120 determines whether the number of media stacked on theintermediate stacker32 has reached the set target number of media and whether the number of media stacked on theintermediate stacker32 has reached a specified number of recorded media based on a counter value of thesecond counter121. Thememory122 stores a second program PR2 including a program of a post-processing control routine in the first mode illustrated in the flowchart ofFIG.11 and a program of a post-processing control routine in the second mode illustrated in the flowchart ofFIG.13.
• Thefirst controller110 and thesecond controller120 perform consecutive recording by consecutively transporting themedia12 of cutform paper, for example, and successively performing recording on themedia12, and execute maintenance at a timing between themedia12 in the maintenance time. In the first mode, the maintenance is performed every time the predetermined maintenance time is reached and a timing when themedium processing apparatus31 performs a process is determined based on the timing when the maintenance is executed. In the first mode, when the maintenance is performed in the maintenance time determined in advance in the course of the consecutive recording, themedium processing apparatus31 performs processing after the medium12 which has been last recorded before the maintenance is stacked on theintermediate stacker32. Thefirst controller110 notifies thesecond controller120 of the number of recorded media counted by thefirst counter112 indicating order of the medium12 which has been last recorded before the maintenance in a number of media stacked on theintermediate stacker32 of thepost-processing apparatus14 in the maintenance time in the first mode.
• In the second mode, themedium processing apparatus31 performs processing on themedium bundle12B every time the number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 reaches a set target number of media and determines a timing when the maintenance is performed in therecording apparatus13 based on a timing of the execution of the processing. Note that an actual maintenance interval time is required to be suppressed within a predetermined maintenance interval time so that deterioration of a discharge state of theliquid ejection head25 is suppressed. Therefore, thefirst controller110 and thesecond controller120 perform control in the second mode when a processing interval time which is an interval of the processing of themedium processing apparatus31 is shorter than the predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance. In the second mode, the maintenance is performed in the course of the consecutive recording when recording on a last one of themedia12 which are targets of a process is terminated. Specifically, thefirst controller110 executes the maintenance when recording on a last N-th media12 in the set target number N of media which are targets of a process performed by themedium processing apparatus31 is terminated. Here, the maintenance is executed when the recording on the last one of themedia12 of the targets of a process is terminated, since the maintenance is preferably started before thelast medium12 reaches theintermediate stacker32. Note that the maintenance may be started after thelast medium12 reaches theintermediate stacker32.
• In the second mode, as the maintenance executed after recording on a last one of themedia12 which are targets of a process is terminated, light maintenance in which a smaller amount of liquid is discharged from theliquid ejection head25 when compared with a case where the maintenance is performed at a predetermined maintenance interval time. This is because viscosity of liquid, such as ink, in thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 is increased as the maintenance interval time is increased, and therefore, lighter maintenance is sufficient when the maintenance interval time is a second interval time which is shorter than a first interval time. Here, strength of the maintenance depends on an amount of liquid discharged from thenozzles24. Therefore, in the second mode in which the maintenance is executed in an interval time shorter than the predetermined maintenance interval time, the light maintenance in which a smaller amount of liquid is discharged from theliquid ejection head25 when compared with a normal mode in which maintenance is executed in a predetermined maintenance interval time is executed.
• Here, the light maintenance in which an amount of liquid discharged from theliquid ejection head25 is small corresponds to preliminary ejection of an ejection amount smaller than that in the normal mode in a case of the preliminary ejection or cleaning in which a suction amount is smaller than that in the normal mode in a case of cleaning. Here, in the cleaning, if a suction amount is small, a liquid discharge amount is also small. For example, in the second mode, since the flushing is executed with a second flushing interval time TI2 which is shorter than a first flushing interval time TI1 in the normal mode, light flushing in which an amount of liquid discharged from theliquid ejection head25 is smaller than that in the normal mode is executed. Furthermore, in the second mode, since the cleaning is executed with a cleaning interval time which is shorter than that in the normal mode, light cleaning in which an amount of liquid discharged from theliquid ejection head25 is smaller than that in the normal mode is executed. Note that the cleaning interval time in the second mode is set as a value obtained by subtracting a predetermined value equal to or larger than a processing time T2 from the cleaning interval time in the normal mode. Therefore, the cleaning time is reached when the recording on a set target number N of media is terminated, and therefore, the cleaning is executed earlier than the cleaning time in the normal mode.
• Furthermore, the maintenance is performed in accordance with the maintenance interval time when a processing interval time which is an interval in which themedium processing apparatus31 performs processing is longer than a predetermined maintenance interval time. Specifically, when a condition for the second mode is not satisfied, control in the normal mode is performed. In the normal mode, the maintenance is executed in accordance with the predetermined maintenance interval time.
• Furthermore, in the control in the first and second modes, thefirst controller110 starts maintenance immediately after recording on a last one of themedia12 subjected to the recording before the maintenance is terminated. Therefore, the maintenance is started before the medium12 which is last subjected to the recording before the maintenance reaches theintermediate stacker32.
• FIG.10 is a timing chart of control in the first mode. An upper half inFIG.10 is a timing chart of a recording operation and a maintenance operation performed by therecording apparatus13, and a lower half inFIG.10 is a timing chart of a medium receiving/aligning operation and a block discharge operation performed by thepost-processing apparatus14. Here, the medium receiving/aligning operation includes a medium receiving operation of receiving themedia12 on theintermediate stacker32 and an aligning operation of aligning themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32. The medium receiving operation is performed by thetransport mechanism30, thereception mechanism41, and thesupply mechanism43.
• The maintenance operation is performed every predetermined maintenance interval time in the course of the recording operation. The maintenance operation includes the flushing FL executed every flushing interval time TI1 and cleaning CL executed every cleaning interval time. In the first mode, the medium12 which has been last recorded before the maintenance reaches theintermediate stacker32, and terminates an aligning operation performed on the last recordedmedium12. Thereafter, themedium processing apparatus31 executes a block discharge operation as an example of a process performed on themedium bundle12B stacked on theintermediate stacker32. A block discharge time T1 required for the block discharge operation corresponds to an example of a processing time. When a condition in which the block discharge time T1 is shorter than the flushing time TF required for the flushing FL (T1<TF) is satisfied, stop of the recording operation due to the block discharge operation does not further occur. This is because the block discharge operation may be terminated within a period of time required for the maintenance operation. Note that if the condition “T1<TF” is not satisfied, a blank time may be used for the maintenance although the maintenance may not be terminated in the blank time.
• FIG.12 is a timing chart of the control in the second mode. An upper half inFIG.12 is a timing chart of the recording operation and the maintenance operation performed by therecording apparatus13, and a lower half inFIG.12 is a timing chart of the medium receiving/aligning operation and a post-processing/discharge operation performed by thepost-processing apparatus14. Here, the post-processing/discharge operation includes a post-processing operation of performing post-processing on themedium bundle12B on theintermediate stacker32 and a block discharge operation of discharging themedium bundle12B which has been subjected to the post-processing from theintermediate stacker32 to thedischarge stacker35. The post-processing operation corresponds to a stapling processing operation performed by thepost-processing mechanism33 when the stapling process, for example, is performed. The post-processing operation corresponds to a saddle stitching operation when the saddle stitching process, for example, is performed. The post-processing operation corresponds to a shift processing operation performed by the second aligningmechanism52 and themedium support mechanism55 when the shift process, for example, is performed. Note that the upper half inFIG.12 also includes a timing chart of the flushing operation in the normal mode as a comparative example to indicate that a flushing interval in the second mode is short.
• In the second mode, the maintenance is performed in the course of the consecutive recording, when recording on an N-th medium12 which is the last one of a target set number N ofmedia12 included in targets of a process performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 is terminated. Therefore, the maintenance is started in a time point before a timing when the post-processing operation is started by a period of time corresponding to a transport time TM of themedia12. Then thepost-processing apparatus14 executes the post-processing operation and the block discharge operation as examples of the processing on themedium bundle12B stacked on theintermediate stacker32 after the last one of themedia12 before the maintenance has reached theintermediate stacker32 and the aligning operation performed on the last one of the recordedmedia12 is terminated. InFIG.12, the post-processing operation and the block discharge operation are included in the “post-processing”, and a period of time required for the post-processing is referred to as a post-processing time T2 and an interval time for the post-processing is referred to as a post-processing interval time T3.
• Next, operation of therecording system11 will be described.
• The user inputs and sets recording condition information and post-processing condition information by operating a pointing device, such as a keyboard (not illustrated) or a mouse (not illustrated), of the host apparatus150. The recording condition information includes a medium size, a medium type, a recording color, and the total number of recorded media. Furthermore, the post-processing condition information includes information indicating whether the post-processing is to be performed, content of the post-processing, and the set number of media. Examples of a process which does not include the post-processing include “bar-stacking”, and examples of the post-processing include a “stapling process”, a “punching process”, a “shift process”, a “saddle stitching process”, and a “folding process”. The set number of media corresponds to “the number of stacked media”12 to be subjected to processing. For example, the set number of media indicates the number of media to be bound in the stapling process or the number of stacked media corresponding to a block of themedia12 to be shifted in the width direction X in the shift process.
• Thefirst controller110 of therecording apparatus13 receives the print data PD from the host apparatus150. Thefirst controller110 obtains information including a medium size, a medium type, a print color, print quality, the total number of recorded media, and the post-processing condition information from recording condition information included in the print data PD. Furthermore, thefirst controller110 obtains a type of the post processing, the set number of media to be subjected to the post-processing, and a position where the post-processing is to be performed.
• Therecording system11 of this embodiment has the first and second modes in addition to the normal mode so as to enhance productivity. Hereinafter, control in the first mode will be described. Here, in the control in the first mode, a timing when thepost-processing apparatus14 performs processing is determined with the maintenance time in which therecording apparatus13 executes the maintenance as a reference. Examples of the processing basically include processes which are executable even if the set number of media has not been reached so that the timing when thepost-processing apparatus14 performs the processing is determined using the maintenance time as a reference. For example, a case where the “normal stacking process” or the “shift process” is specified is a candidate of the first mode.
• Hereinafter, the first mode control executed by thefirst controller110 will be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG.11. InFIG.11, a first mode control routine executed by thefirst controller110 is illustrated on a left side and a post-processing control routine in the first mode executed by thesecond controller120 is illustrated on a right side. Note that thecap62 is in the capping position and thesupport section23 is in the retracting position (the position denoted by the dashed two-dotted line inFIG.2) before the recording operation is started.
• When receiving the print data PD, thefirst controller110 determines whether the post-processing is to be performed in accordance with the post-processing condition information included in the print data PD. When a type of the post-processing which is a candidate in the first mode is specified, the first mode is set and information indicating the first mode is transmitted to the second controller120 (step S11).
• Then thefirst controller110 performs a recording operation (step S12).
• Specifically, thefirst controller110 first moves thecap62 from the capping position to the retracting position and thesupport section23 from the retracting position to the support position (the position indicated by the solid line inFIG.2). Then thefirst controller110 performs a recording operation including a transport operation of supplying the medium12 from thecassette20 and transporting the medium12 at a predetermined speed along thetransport path17 and a liquid ejecting operation of recording an image on the medium12 by ejecting liquid from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 to the transportedmedium12.
• When theliquid ejection head25 enters a non-capping state, thefirst controller110 causes thetimer111 to start counting so as to count an elapsed time T in the non-capping state. While the recording operation is performed, thefirst controller110 determines whether the elapsed time T has reached the normal first flushing interval time TI1 (T≥TI1) (step S13). When the condition “T≥TI1” is satisfied, information on the number of recorded media indicating order of the medium12 being recorded, that is, order of a last one of themedia12 before the maintenance in a number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 in thepost-processing apparatus14 is transmitted to the second controller120 (step S14). The number of recorded media is obtained as described below, for example. Thefirst controller110 recognizes a current post-processing state including the number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 in thepost-processing apparatus14 through communication with various sensors (not illustrated) on thetransport path17 and thesecond controller120. When the medium12 which is last recorded before the maintenance is the last one of themedia12 of targets of a process on theintermediate stacker32, thefirst controller110 transmits information indicating order of thelast medium12 in a number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 as the number of recorded media. For example, thefirst controller110 manages the number of recorded media indicating order of the currently recorded medium12 in themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 using thefirst counter112 and transmits the information on the number of recorded media to thesecond controller120.
• Thereafter, thefirst controller110 stops the recording operation when the recording on thelast medium12 before the maintenance is terminated and performs the flushing operation at a timing between thelast medium12 and a next medium12 to be recorded (step S15). In this way, as illustrated inFIG.10, every time the flushing time is reached during the recording operation, the recording operation is stopped and a switching operation is performed on thesupport section23 and thecap62 so that thecap62 is located in the capping position. Then, as one of maintenance operations, the flushing FL is performed such that liquid which does not relate to recording is ejected from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 to thecap62. When the flushing FL is terminated, the switching operation is performed on thecap62 and thesupport section23, and the entire operation of the flushing FL is terminated. Note that a position of thecap62 disposed in the flushing FL is lower than the capping position by a predetermined distance and may be a liquid reception position which faces a lower portion of theliquid ejection head25 with a gap.
• Furthermore, thefirst controller110 determines whether the cleaning time has been reached during the recording operation (step S16). When the cleaning time has been reached, information on the number of recorded media indicating order of the medium12 being recorded, that is, a last one of themedia12 before the maintenance, in themedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 in thepost-processing apparatus14 is transmitted to the second controller120 (step S17). This notification process is the same as that performed in step S14. Furthermore, when the cleaning time is reached, the cleaning operation is executed (step S18). Here, thetimer111 also counts an elapsed time T after a preceding cleaning execution time, and thefirst controller110 determines that the cleaning time has been reached when the elapsed time T counted by thetimer111 has reached the cleaning interval time. Furthermore, thefirst controller110 examines ejection failure of thenozzles24 using thenozzle inspection apparatus70 while the recording operation is performed. Also when at least one or at least a predetermined plurality of failure nozzles are detected, thefirst controller110 determines that the cleaning time has been reached. When the cleaning time is reached, thefirst controller110 performs the cleaning operation. By this, as illustrated inFIG.10, the cleaning CL is performed as one of the maintenance operations when the cleaning time is entered during the recording operation. After a liquid forcible discharge operation is terminated in the cleaning CL, the switching operation is performed on thecap62 and thesupport section23 and the cleaning CL is terminated. The cleaning time TC which is a period of time required for the cleaning CL is longer than the flushing time TF which is a period of time required for the flushing FL. Specifically, the block discharge time T1 is shorter than the cleaning time TC. Therefore, the block discharge operation may be performed even in the cleaning operation using a blank time in which recording corresponding to the cleaning time TC is not performed.
• Then thefirst controller110 determines whether the entire operation is to be terminated (step S19). It is determined that the entire operation is to be terminated when all the specified number ofmedia12 which have been recorded are discharged after being processed in thepost-processing apparatus14 or when the user interrupts a print job based on the print data PD. When the entire operation is not to be terminated (the determination is negative in step S19), the process returns to step S12 and the process from step S12 to step S19 is performed again.
• On the other hand, thesecond controller120 performs next control in thepost-processing apparatus14 while therecording apparatus13 performs the recording operation. When receiving a specified mode indicating the first mode specified to be employed in current control by thefirst controller110 when therecording apparatus13 starts the recording operation (the determination is affirmative in step S31), thesecond controller120 starts the control in the first mode. Then thesecond controller120 first performs the medium receiving/aligning operation (step S32). Thesecond controller120 performs a receiving operation of causing thetransport mechanism30 to transport the medium12 supplied from therecording apparatus13 through theintermediate apparatus15 and causing thereception mechanism41 to receive the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 on theintermediate stacker32. Furthermore, after the receiving operation, thesecond controller120 performs an aligning operation of aligning themedia12 received on theintermediate stacker32. Specifically, thesecond controller120 knocks off the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 by pivoting themovable guide42 from the retracting position indicated by the dashed two-dotted line inFIG.5 to the operation position indicated by the solid line inFIG.5 so as to change thetransport path17 for transporting the medium12 and supplies the medium12 in the second direction Y2 by rotation of the two types of puddles, that is, thelarge puddles45 and the small puddles46. By this, the medium12 is received by the stackingsurface32A.
• After the receiving operation, thesecond controller120 moves the first aligningmember38 from the second position P2 to the first position P1 (refer toFIG.5) and knocks thetip end12fof the medium12 by the aligningsurface38A so as to cause the trailingend12rof the medium12 to abut on themedium abutting portions47. In this way, themedia12 are aligned in the transport direction Y1. Thereafter, thesecond controller120 moves the pair of second aligningmembers54 from the retracting position (refer toFIG.6) to the aligning position (refer toFIG.7) in which the gap between the aligningmembers54 becomes smaller and knocks the both ends12sof themedia12 so as to align themedia12 in the width direction X. Consequently, themedia12 are aligned in the two directions on theintermediate stacker32. In this way, the receiving operation and the aligning operation are performed in turn on themedia12 successively discharged from thetransport mechanism30 and the plurality ofmedia12 are stacked on the stackingsurface32A in an aligning state.
• Thesecond controller120 determines whether a number of media corresponding to the number of recorded media supplied from thefirst controller110 has been received (step S33). When a number of media corresponding to the number of recorded media are not received, it is determined whether alignment of the set number of media has been terminated (step S35). When the set number of media is not reached and the entire operation is not to be terminated (the determination is negative in step S37), the process in step S32 to step S37 is performed again. Specifically, after the medium receiving/aligning operation is performed on each of the media12 (S32) and the alignment of the set number of sheets is terminated (the determination is affirmative in step S35), the block discharge operation is performed (S36). In the block discharge operation, thesecond controller120 drives the pair of rollers of thedischarge mechanism36 for rotation while the pair of rollers of thedischarge mechanism36 nips a portion of themedium bundle12B so that themedium bundle12B is discharged from theintermediate stacker32. Here, a gap between themedium support members37 which support themedium bundle12B being discharged is temporarily increased so that themedium bundle12B is dropped on thedischarge stacker35. Themedium bundle12B which has been dropped on thedischarge stacker35 slides and drops on the stackingsurface35A or an upper surface of a precedingmedium bundle12B on the stackingsurface35A in the second direction Y2 and the trailingend12rabuts on a standingwall14B so as to be aligned in the transport direction Y1.
• Thepost-processing apparatus14 performs the block discharge operation every time the medium receiving/aligning operation is performed for the set number of media. On the other hand, after themedia12 corresponding to the number of recorded media notified by thefirst controller110 are received (the determination is affirmative in step S33) when therecording apparatus13 reaches the flushing time, it is determined whether alignment of themedia12 corresponding to the specified number of recorded media has been terminated (step S34). Thesecond controller120 receives the notification on the number of recorded media while thelast medium12 in the number of recorded media is being recorded or immediately after thelast media12 is recorded, and therefore, a predetermined period of time is required until themedia12 are transported to thepost-processing apparatus14 and are totally aligned. Thesecond controller120 continuously performs the medium receiving/aligning operation on themedia12 which are transported one by one in a period of time from when one of themedia12 which is last recorded before the flushing reaches to when the alignment of themedia12 is terminated. After the medium12 which is last recorded before the flushing is received and aligned (the determination is affirmative in step S34), the block discharge operation is performed (S36). Specifically, even if the number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 does not reach the set number of media, when the alignment of themedia12 for the notified number of recorded media is terminated, thedischarge mechanism36 discharges themedium bundle12B from the stackingsurface32A.
• As illustrated inFIG.10, therecording apparatus13 performs the recording operation of successively performing recording on themedia12 which are consecutively transported. The medium12 which has been subjected to the recording operation is received by thepost-processing apparatus14 in a delayed manner by a transport time TM required for transport to thepost-processing apparatus14 through theintermediate apparatus15. Then the media receiving/aligning operation is successively performed on each of the transportedmedia12 in thepost-processing apparatus14, and in this way, themedia12 are stacked on the stackingsurface32A. In therecording apparatus13, when the maintenance time is reached during the recording operation, the maintenance operation is performed. When the flushing time is reached, for example, the flushing FL is performed as a part of the maintenance. Furthermore, in therecording apparatus13, when the cleaning time is reached, for example, during the recording operation, the cleaning CL is performed as a part of the maintenance.
• Here, as illustrated inFIG.10, the recording operation is temporarily stopped while the flushing FL is performed by therecording apparatus13, and therefore, a blank time in which the medium12 is not transported is generated by the flushing time TF in thepost-processing apparatus14. Thepost-processing apparatus14 performs the block discharge operation using the blank time. Here, thepost-processing apparatus14 has obtained information on the number of recorded media, that is, order of the medium12 which is last recorded before the flushing FL by therecording apparatus13, and performs the block discharge operation when the number ofmedia12 which have been stacked on the stackingsurface32A and which have been subjected to the media receiving/aligning operation reaches the number of recorded media. Specifically, thepost-processing apparatus14 waits until the medium12 which has been last recorded by therecording apparatus13 before the flushing FL is transported and subjected to the medium receiving/aligning operation, and thereafter, performs the block discharge operation of discharging themedium bundle12B including thelast medium12 on an uppermost portion thereof. Therefore, although the block discharge operation is performed using the blank time generated when the recording operation is temporarily stopped due to the flushing FL, all themedia12 recorded before the flushing including thelast medium12 are transported to theintermediate stacker32 included in thepost-processing apparatus14 even after the flushing FL is started until all themedia12 are received by theintermediate stacker32. The block discharge operation of discharging themedium bundle12B including thelast medium12 is performed using the blank time of the recording generated due to the flushing FL. Therefore, the transport of the recordedmedia12 is continuously performed even during the execution of the flushing FL.
• Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.10, the recording operation is temporarily stopped while the cleaning CL is performed by therecording apparatus13, and therefore, a blank time in which the medium12 is not transported is generated by the cleaning time TC in thepost-processing apparatus14. Thepost-processing apparatus14 performs the block discharge operation using the blank time. Here, thepost-processing apparatus14 has obtained information on the number of recorded media, that is, order of the medium12 which is last recorded before the cleaning CL by therecording apparatus13, and performs the block discharge operation when the number ofmedia12 which have been stacked on the stackingsurface32A and which have been subjected to the media receiving/aligning operation reaches the number of recorded media. Specifically, thepost-processing apparatus14 waits until the medium12 which has been last subjected to the recording by therecording apparatus13 before the cleaning CL is transported and subjected to the medium receiving/aligning operation, and thereafter, performs the block discharge operation of discharging themedium bundle12B including thelast medium12 positioned on an uppermost portion thereof. Therefore, although the block discharge operation is performed using the blank time generated when the recording operation is temporarily stopped due to the cleaning CL, all themedia12 including thelast medium12 recorded before the cleaning are transported to theintermediate stacker32 included in thepost-processing apparatus14 even after the cleaning CL is started until all themedia12 are received by theintermediate stacker32.
• Here, when the maintenance performed by therecording apparatus13 and the process performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 are simultaneously started, reception of the medium12 is required to be stopped in thepost-processing apparatus14 during the block discharge operation, and therefore, the transport of a predetermined number ofmedia12 including the medium12 which has been last recorded before the maintenance is required to be totally stopped. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the maintenance performed by therecording apparatus13 and the process performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 are performed with a time difference corresponding to the transport time TM required for the transport from therecording apparatus13 to thepost-processing apparatus14, and therefore, the transport operation performed by theintermediate apparatus15 and thepost-processing apparatus14 disposed on a downstream side relative to theliquid ejection head25 is not required to be stopped even during the maintenance. Note that, if a predetermined number ofmedia12 which may be held by theintermediate apparatus15 have been already held in theintermediate apparatus15, the transport is required to be totally stopped. However, the stop is not required in this embodiment.
• Furthermore, in the case where the maintenance performed by therecording apparatus13 and the process performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 are simultaneously started, transport is totally stopped a large number of times, and therefore, a large amount of loss may occur due to the stop of the transport operation and rising after the stop. On the other hand, in this embodiment, transport is stopped a smaller number of times or not stopped on a downstream region relative to theliquid ejection head25, and therefore, the loss caused by the stop of the transport operation and rising after the stop may be eliminated or reduced. Therefore, according to therecording system11 of this embodiment which performs control with a time difference for starting the process after the maintenance in a delayed manner, productivity is improved when compared with the case where the maintenance and the process are simultaneously performed. Note that, when the “shift process” is performed as the specified post-processing, a process the same as the “normal stacking process” is performed except for the shift operation is performed before the block discharge operation. In this case, a sum of the shift operation required time and the block discharge operation required time corresponds to the block discharge time T1.
• Next, control in the second mode will be described with reference toFIGS.12 and13.
• Here, in the second mode, control for determining the maintenance time of therecording apparatus13 is performed with a timing when thepost-processing apparatus14 starts the process as a reference. Therefore, the process of thepost-processing apparatus14 is preferentially performed, and accordingly, a process with the post-processing which does not allow the discharge operation to be performed until a set number ofmedia12 are stacked is also a target of the control in the second mode. For example, a case where the “stapling process” or the “saddle stitching process” is specified is a candidate in the second mode.
• Hereinafter, the control in the second mode executed by thefirst controller110 will be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG.13. InFIG.13, a second mode control routine executed by thefirst controller110 is illustrated on a left side and a post-processing control routine in the second mode executed by thesecond controller120 is illustrated on a right side. Note that thecap62 is in the capping position and thesupport section23 is in the retracting position (the position denoted by the dashed two-dotted line inFIG.2) before the recording operation is started.
• When receiving the print data PD, thefirst controller110 determines whether the post-processing is to be performed in accordance with the post-processing condition information included in the print data PD. When the post-processing which is a candidate in the second mode is specified, thefirst controller110 calculates a post-processing interval time T3 (step S41). The post-processing is performed with the post-processing time interval T3. Thefirst controller110 calculates the post-processing interval time T3 using the post-processing condition information included in the print data PD.
• Thefirst controller110 determines whether a predetermined condition in which the post-processing interval time T3 is smaller than the first flushing interval time TI1 in the normal mode (T3<TI1) is satisfied. When the condition “T3<TI1” is not satisfied, control in the normal mode is performed (step S43). On the other hand, when the condition “T3<TI1” is satisfied, the second mode is set, and in addition, information indicating the second mode is transmitted to the second controller120 (step S44).
• Thefirst controller110 obtains the set number of media which is the target number ofmedia12 which are targets of the post-processing and which are to be stacked on the intermediate stacker32 (step S45). Then thefirst controller110 performs a recording operation. First, thefirst controller110 moves thecap62 from the capping position to the retracting position and thesupport section23 from the retracting position to the support position (the position indicated by the solid line inFIG.2). Then thefirst controller110 performs a recording operation including a transport operation of supplying the medium12 from thecassette20 and transporting the medium12 at a predetermined speed along thetransport path17 and a liquid ejecting operation of recording an image on the medium12 by ejecting liquid from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 to the transported medium12 (step S46).
• When theliquid ejection head25 enters a non-capping state, thefirst controller110 causes thetimer111 to start counting so as to count an elapsed time T in the non-capping state. Thefirst controller110 causes thefirst counter112 to count the number of media subjected to the recording operation. Specifically, thefirst counter112 counts the number of recorded media as the number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 in thepost-processing apparatus14. Therefore, thefirst counter112 is reset every time a counted value reaches the set number of media.
• Thefirst controller110 determines a timing and a type of the maintenance in consecutive recording in which themedia12 which are consecutively transported are successively subjected to recording in a process from step S47 to step S49. Thefirst controller110 determines whether the recording is terminated for the set number of media (step S47). Specifically, thefirst controller110 determines whether the number of media counted by thefirst counter112 has reached the set number of media which are targets of the post-processing. Thefirst controller110 regularly or irregularly updates a count value of thefirst counter112 so that thefirst counter112 accurately counts order of the medium12 being recorded in the number of media stacked on theintermediate stacker32. Thefirst controller110 updates the count value of thefirst counter112 using information on the number of media stacked on theintermediate stacker32 which is obtained by the communication with the various sensors (not illustrated) on thetransport path17 and thesecond controller120. Then thefirst controller110 determines whether a last one of themedia12 which are stacked on theintermediate stacker32 and which are targets of a process has been subjected to recording in a determination process in step S47.
• Before the recording for the set number of media is terminated, thefirst controller110 determines whether the elapsed time T becomes the first flushing interval time TI1 in the normal mode (T≥TI1) (step S49). When the condition “T≥TI1” is not satisfied and before the entire operation is terminated (the determination is negative in step S52), the process returns to step S46 and the recording operation is continuously performed. When the recording for the set number of media is terminated (the determination is affirmative in step S47), it is determined whether the cleaning time has been reached (step S48). It is assumed here that thefirst controller110 determines a time when the elapsed time T counted by thetimer111 after an end of preceding cleaning reaches the cleaning interval time as the cleaning time, and in addition, causes thenozzle inspection apparatus70 to examine discharge failure of thenozzles24 while the recording operation is performed, and determines that the cleaning time has been reached even when a predetermined number of failure nozzles or more are detected. When the cleaning time is not reached, thefirst controller110 executes the flushing operation (step S50).
• Thefirst controller110 performs the cleaning operation when the recording for the set number of media is terminated and the cleaning time is reached (step S51). Specifically, when the recording for the set number of media is terminated and when the cleaning time is reached, the cleaning operation is performed in preference to the flushing operation whereas when the cleaning time is not reached, the flushing operation is executed. In this way, as illustrated inFIG.12, when thepost-processing apparatus14 performs the medium receiving/aligning operation, themedia12 are stacked on theintermediate stacker32. The flushing start time is reached when therecording apparatus13 has recorded a last one of the set number ofmedia12 which are targets of the post-processing as a process and which are stacked on theintermediate stacker32. Specifically, a time before the timing when the set number ofmedia12 have been stacked on theintermediate stacker32 by thepost-processing apparatus14 by the transport time TM required for the transport of themedia12 from the recording position in arecording apparatus13 to a medium reception position on theintermediate stacker32 in thepost-processing apparatus14 corresponds to the maintenance time. In this embodiment, a time when the number of recorded media counted by thefirst counter112 reaches the set number of media corresponding to order of the last one of themedia12 which are targets of a process performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 is determined as the maintenance time.
• Therefore, the flushing FL is performed as a maintenance operation every time therecording apparatus13 terminates the recording for the set number of media, and the cleaning CL is performed as a maintenance operation in a case where a time when the recording for the set number of media is terminated is also the cleaning time. In this case, since the condition “T3<TH” is satisfied (the determination is affirmative in step S42), the flushing FL to be performed every time the recording for the set number of media is terminated is performed every second flushing interval time TI2 which is shorter than the first flushing interval time TI1 in the normal mode.
• In the second mode, therecording apparatus13 terminates the recording for the set number of media before the elapsed time T reaches the first flushing interval time TI1. Therefore, normally, the condition “T≥TI1” is not satisfied in step S49, and therecording apparatus13 executes the flushing operation every time the recording for the set number of media is terminated. However, when the condition “T≥TI1” is satisfied (the determination is affirmative in step S49) since the elapsed time T reaches the first flushing interval time TI1 before the recording for the set number of media is terminated since a long period of time is required for the recording for the set number of media for some reason, thefirst controller110 executes the flushing operation (step S50).
• Here, as illustrated inFIG.12, the flushing operation is performed in the second flushing interval time TI2 which is shorter than the first flushing interval time TI1, and therefore, flushing which discharges a smaller amount of liquid when compared with the normal mode is preferably performed. Furthermore, the cleaning interval time in the second mode is shorter than the cleaning interval time in the normal mode, and even if an actual cleaning interval time is longest when the number of recorded media reaches the set number of media, the actual cleaning interval time is still suppressed to be equal to or shorter than the cleaning interval time in the normal mode. Therefore, if the actual cleaning interval time counted by thetimer111 is shorter than the cleaning interval time in the normal mode, an amount of liquid discharged from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 in the cleaning operation is preferably reduced when compared with the normal mode in accordance with a time difference between the actual cleaning time and the cleaning time.
• On the other hand, in thepost-processing apparatus14, thesecond controller120 performs the post-processing control routine illustrated inFIG.13. When receiving a specified mode indicating the second mode specified to be employed in current control by thefirst controller110 when therecording apparatus13 starts the recording operation (the determination is affirmative in step S61), thesecond controller120 starts the control in the second mode. Then the medium receiving/aligning operation is first performed on themedia12 which are transported from therecording apparatus13 through the intermediate apparatus15 (step S62). Specifically, thesecond controller120 performs a reception operation of causing thetransport mechanism30 to transport the medium12 supplied to thepost-processing apparatus14 and causing thereception mechanism41 to receive the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 on theintermediate stacker32. Furthermore, after the receiving operation, thesecond controller120 performs an aligning operation of aligning themedia12 received on theintermediate stacker32. The process in step S62 is the same as that in step S32 ofFIG.11. In this way, the receiving operation and the aligning operation are performed in turn on themedia12 successively discharged from thetransport mechanism30 and the plurality ofmedia12 are aligned in a stacked state on the stackingsurface32A.
• While the medium receiving/aligning operation is performed, thesecond controller120 determines whether alignment of a set number of media has been terminated (step S63). When the determination is negative in step S37 and the entire operation is not terminated (the determination is negative in step S65), the process in step S62 to step S65 is performed again. Specifically, after the medium receiving/aligning operation is performed on each of the media12 (S62) and the alignment of the set number of media is terminated (the determination is affirmative in step S63), the post-processing operation and the block discharge operation is performed (S64). Here, when the stapling process is specified as the post-processing, thesecond controller120 drives thepost-processing mechanism33 so as to perform the stapling process operation on themedium bundle12B. Furthermore, when the saddle stitching process is specified as the post-processing, thesecond controller120 drives a post-processing mechanism for the saddle stitching (not illustrated) so as to perform the saddle stitching operation on themedium bundle12B. Moreover, when the shift process is specified as the post-processing, thesecond controller120 drives the second aligningmechanism52 and themedium support mechanism55 so as to perform the shift process operation on themedium bundle12B. The block discharge operation included in the post-processing/discharge operation is the same as the process in step S36 ofFIG.11, and is performed when thesecond controller120 controls thedischarge mechanism36 and the pair ofmedium support members37. As a result of the block discharge operation, themedium bundle12B is stacked on thedischarge stacker35.
• As illustrated inFIG.12, the recordedmedia12 supplied from therecording apparatus13 are received by thepost-processing apparatus14 in a delayed manner by the transport time TM required for transporting themedia12 to thepost-processing apparatus14 through theintermediate apparatus15. When the medium receiving/aligning operation is performed on theindividual media12 and the number ofmedia12 stacked on the stackingsurface32A reaches the set number of media, the post-processing/discharge operation including the post-processing operation and the block discharge operation is performed as processing.
• Here, as illustrated inFIG.12, when therecording apparatus13 terminates recording of a last one of themedia12 corresponding to the set number ofmedia12 of the targets of a process, the flushing FL or the cleaning CL is performed as the maintenance operation. Even during the maintenance operation, transport of the recordedmedia12 is continuously performed. Thepost-processing apparatus14 waits for an operation of transporting a last one of themedia12 before the maintenance and stacking the medium12 on theintermediate stacker32, and thereafter, performs the post-processing/discharge operation on themedium bundle12B including thelast medium12 as the target of one of the post-processing. The recording operation is temporarily stopped during the maintenance operation, and therefore, a blank time in which the recordedmedia12 are not transported to thepost-processing apparatus14 is generated. The post-processing/discharge operation is performed utilizing the blank time.
• Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG.12, theintermediate stacker32 may not receive themedia12 during the post-processing/discharge operation including the post-processing operation and the block discharge operation, and therefore, therecording apparatus13 stops the recording operation in the post-processing time T2. However, a portion of the time T2 during which the recording operation is stopped is used for the flushing operation or the cleaning operation, and therefore, the blank time of the recording operation may be effectively used for the maintenance operation.
• Furthermore, in the case where the maintenance performed by therecording apparatus13 and the process performed by thepost-processing apparatus14 are simultaneously started which is a general configuration, reception of the medium12 is stopped in thepost-processing apparatus14 during the processing including the post-processing operation and the block discharge operation, and therefore, the transport of a predetermined number ofmedia12 including the medium12 which has been last recorded before the maintenance is totally stopped. On the other hand, in the second mode of the embodiment, the maintenance of therecording apparatus13 and the processing of thepost-processing apparatus14 are performed with a time difference corresponding to the transport time TM, and therefore, the transport operation of the recordedmedia12 is continuously performed even during the maintenance operation.
• Here, if the entire transport of themedia12 is frequently stopped, a temporal loss may be increased due to deceleration at a time of the stop of the transport operation and acceleration at a time of start after the stop. On the other hand, in this embodiment, transport is stopped a smaller number of times or not stopped on a downstream region relative to theliquid ejection head25, and therefore, the temporal loss caused by the stop of the entire transport and the start after the stop may be eliminated or reduced. Therefore, productivity of therecording system11 of this embodiment is improved when compared with the general configuration in which the maintenance and the processing are simultaneously performed.
• Furthermore, when the entire transport of the recordedmedia12 is stopped as the general configuration, a drying time of the recordedmedia12 in the course of transport of themedia12 from the recording position of therecording apparatus13 to theintermediate stacker32 in thepost-processing apparatus14 is changed, and therefore, an adverse effect of accuracy of the post-processing performed on themedium bundle12B caused by variation of a dry degree is a matter of concern. For example, in a case where a drying apparatus is disposed between therecording apparatus13 and thepost-processing apparatus14, a drying time of the drying apparatus for drying themedia12 is excessively increased due to the stop of the entire transport of the recordedmedia12 and recording quality of the medium12 and the post-processing accuracy of themedium bundle12B are degraded. In particular, if the drying apparatus is a heater, the adverse effect is significant. However, according to this embodiment, even in therecording system11 including the drying apparatus, the stop of the entire transport of the recordedmedia12 is eliminated or reduced, and therefore, degradation of quality of themedia12 and themedium bundle12B may be avoided.
• As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects may be attained.
• (1) Themedium processing apparatus31 includes theintermediate stacker32 on which themedia12 recorded by arecording apparatus13 are stacked, therecording apparatus13 having theliquid ejection head25 which performs recording by ejecting liquid to themedia12 and themaintenance apparatus61 which performs maintenance of theliquid ejection head25, and the processor which executes a process on themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32. In the method for controlling themedium processing apparatus31, the process is executed after one of themedia12 which is last recorded before the maintenance is stacked on theintermediate stacker32. Accordingly, in the first mode, thepost-processing apparatus14 may perform the processing using the blank time in which the medium12 is not transported since the maintenance is performed on therecording apparatus13, and therefore, productivity is improved. Furthermore, transport of the medium12 which is last recorded before the maintenance may be continuously performed even during the maintenance. Accordingly, a temporal loss caused by a stop of the transport of the recordedmedia12 during the maintenance may be suppressed or reduced. Therefore, productivity is improved when compared with the general configuration in which the maintenance and the processing are simultaneously performed. Consequently, the processing may be performed using the blank time in which the medium12 is not transported since the maintenance is performed, while stop of the transport of the recordedmedia12 during the maintenance is avoided. Furthermore, when therecording system11 includes a drying apparatus, deterioration of recording quality of themedia12 and deterioration of post-processing quality of themedium bundle12B caused by variation of a drying degree may be suppressed. Accordingly, inconvenience in productivity caused by the stop of the transport of the recordedmedia12 during the maintenance may be avoided.
• (2) Therecording system11 includes therecording apparatus13 and thepost-processing apparatus14. In the method for controlling therecording system11, the process is executed after one of themedia12 which is last recorded before the maintenance is stacked on theintermediate stacker32. In the first mode, thepost-processing apparatus14 may perform the process utilizing the blank time in which the medium12 is not transported since the maintenance is performed on therecording apparatus13, and therefore, the productivity is improved. Furthermore, in the second mode, the maintenance is performed in the blank time in which the recording is not performed by therecording apparatus13 since reception of the medium12 is temporarily stopped due to the post-processing performed by thepost-processing apparatus14, and therefore, the productivity is improved. Furthermore, the transport of the medium12 which is last recorded before the maintenance may be continuously performed even during the maintenance. Accordingly, a temporal loss caused by a stop of the transport of the recordedmedia12 during the maintenance may be suppressed or reduced. Consequently, the productivity is improved when compared with the general configuration in which the maintenance and the post-processing are simultaneously performed. Furthermore, in a case where therecording system11 includes a drying apparatus, deterioration of recording quality of themedia12 and deterioration of post-processing quality of themedium bundle12B caused by variation of a drying degree may be suppressed.
• (3) In the method for controlling therecording system11, the maintenance is started before the medium12 which is last recorded before the maintenance reaches theintermediate stacker32. Therefore, the blank time in which the medium12 is not transported to thepost-processing apparatus14 since the recording operation is temporarily stopped due to the maintenance may be reduced, and accordingly, the productivity is improved.
• (4) In the method for controlling therecording system11, the maintenance is executed in response to termination of the recording on the last one of the media included in targets of a process when the post-processing interval time T3 which is an interval of the post-processing is shorter than the predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance. Accordingly, the post-processing may be performed every time a set target number ofmedia12 are stacked on theintermediate stacker32, and in addition, the post-processing may be performed utilizing the blank time of the recording operation caused by the maintenance. Furthermore, deterioration of an ejection state of theliquid ejection head25 caused by delay of the maintenance may be suppressed.
• (5) In the method for controlling therecording system11, the maintenance is executed in response to termination of the recording on the last one of the media included in targets of a process when the post-processing interval time T3 which is an interval of the post-processing performed by themedium processing apparatus31 is shorter than the predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance. Accordingly, the post-processing may be performed at an appropriate timing every time a set target number ofmedia12 are stacked on theintermediate stacker32, and in addition, the process may be performed utilizing the blank time of the recording operation caused by the maintenance. In addition, when the maintenance is the flushing FL, for example, the flushing FL is performed with the second flushing interval time TI2 which is shorter than the predetermined first flushing interval time TIE Accordingly, deterioration of the ejection state of theliquid ejection head25 due to a delay of the flushing FL may be suppressed. Note that the same effect is attained when the cleaning CL is performed as the maintenance instead of the flushing FL.
• (6) In the method for controlling therecording system11, when the maintenance is executed after the recording on the last media is terminated, light flushing in which theliquid ejection head25 ejects a smaller amount of liquid when compared with a case where the flushing is performed with the first flushing interval time TI1 in the normal mode. Furthermore, when the maintenance is the cleaning CL, for example, the light cleaning in which theliquid ejection head25 discharges a smaller amount of liquid when compared with the case where the cleaning CL is executed with the first cleaning interval time in the normal mode is executed. Accordingly, an amount of consumed liquid may be reduced while the maintenance is appropriately performed.
• (7) In the method for controlling therecording system11, the flushing FL is executed in accordance with the first flushing interval time TI1 when the post-processing interval time T3 for the post-processing performed by themedium processing apparatus31 is longer than the predetermined first flushing interval time TI1 which is an interval for executing the flushing FL as the maintenance. Furthermore, when the maintenance is the cleaning CL, the cleaning CL is executed in accordance with the first cleaning interval time when the post-processing time T2 is longer than the predetermined first cleaning interval time which is an interval for executing the cleaning CL. Accordingly, deterioration of an ejection state of theliquid ejection head25 may be suppressed.
• (8) In the method for controlling therecording system11, preliminary ejection of discharging liquid which does not relate to recording from theliquid ejection head25 is executed as the maintenance performed by themaintenance apparatus61. Accordingly, deterioration of an ejection state of theliquid ejection head25 may be suppressed.
• (9) In the method for controlling therecording system11, the cleaning CL which is an operation of forcibly discharging liquid from theliquid ejection head25 is performed as the maintenance performed by themaintenance apparatus61. Accordingly, deterioration of an ejection state of theliquid ejection head25 may be suppressed.
• (10) Themedium processing apparatus31 includes theintermediate stacker32 on which themedia12 recorded by therecording apparatus13 are stacked, the processor which executes a process on themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32, and thesecond controller120 which controls an operation of the processor. Thesecond controller120 executes the process after the medium12 which is last recorded before the maintenance is stacked on theintermediate stacker32. Accordingly, in the first mode, thepost-processing apparatus14 may perform the process utilizing the blank time in which the medium12 is not transported since the maintenance is performed on therecording apparatus13, and therefore, the productivity is improved. Consequently, the productivity is improved when compared with the general configuration in which the maintenance and the process are simultaneously performed.
• (11) Therecording system11 includes therecording apparatus13 and themedium processing apparatus31. Therecording apparatus13 includes theliquid ejection head25, themaintenance apparatus61, and thefirst controller110 which control the operation of themaintenance apparatus61. Themedium processing apparatus31 includes theintermediate stacker32 and the processor which executes the process on themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32. In the method for controlling therecording system11, thefirst controller110 executes the maintenance in response to termination of the recording on the last one of the media included in targets of a process when the post-processing interval time T3 which is an interval of the post-processing performed by themedium processing apparatus110 is shorter than the predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance. According to therecording system11, the effect of (10) is also attained.
• Note that the foregoing embodiment may be changed to modifications below. Furthermore, appropriate combinations of the foregoing embodiment and the modifications below may be further modifications or appropriate combinations of the modifications below may be further modifications.
• A determination as to whether the second mode is to be set is made by comparing the post-processing interval time T3 which is an interval for performing the post-processing with the predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval for performing the maintenance. Alternatively, a determination as to whether the second mode is to be set may be made by comparing a period of time obtained by subtracting the period of time in which the maintenance operation is performed from a sum of the post-processing time T2 and the post-processing interval time T3 with the predetermined maintenance interval time.
• Although light maintenance in which a smaller amount of liquid is discharged when compared with normal maintenance performed in the normal mode is performed in the second mode, the normal maintenance may be performed. In this case, only the flushing FL may be normally performed in the flushing FL and the cleaning CL in the second mode or only the cleaning CL may be normally performed in the second mode.
• The aligning operation may be or may not be included in the post-processing. For example, the aligning operation performed when the number ofmedia12 stacked on theintermediate stacker32 reaches the set number of media may be included in the post-processing. Furthermore, the aligning operation performed when the last one of themedia12 which are targets of the block discharge operation is received may be included in the post-processing.
• Instead of the suction cleaning, pressure cleaning may be performed. Here, the pressure cleaning is performed such that liquid is forcibly pressurized and discharged from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 by pressurizing an ink pack, for example, serving as a liquid supply source by a pressure member or gas pressure.
• It is assumed that the number of media stacked on theintermediate stacker32 has not reached the number of media required to be discharged when a gap (blank) between themedia12 which becomes large since themedia12 on an upstream of theliquid ejection head25 are not transported in the maintenance reaches theintermediate stacker32. Even in this case, themedia12 may be discharged outside theintermediate stacker32.
• The first aligningmechanism51 including the first aligningmember38 may be eliminated. With this configuration, themedia12 may be transported in the second direction Y2 using the first andsecond paddles45 and46 included in thesupply mechanism43 and the trailing ends12rof themedia12 may abut on themedium abutting portions47 so that themedia12 are aligned in the transport direction Y1.
• Themedia12 may be aligned in only one of the two directions in the aligning operation. For example, themedia12 received by theintermediate stacker32 may be aligned only in the transport direction Y1 or only in the width direction X.
• The maintenance may include, in addition to the preliminary ejection and the cleaning which are actually performed, a preparation operation performed before the preliminary ejection and the cleaning are actually executed after an end of recording.
• The maintenance further includes a maintenance preparation operation of retracting the transfer belt from the transfer position to the retracting position and moving the maintenance mechanism from the retracting position to the head position. The maintenance further includes a recording preparation operation of moving the transfer belt from the retracting position to the transfer position and retracting the maintenance mechanism from the head position to the retracting position.
• The wiping apparatus may be movable with the cap.
• Only wiping may be performed in the maintenance without the flushing and the cleaning.
• The alignment in the transport direction Y1 and the alignment in the width direction X are preferably performed every time the medium12 is received in theintermediate stacker32. However, the alignment in the transport direction Y1 and the alignment in the width direction X may be performed every time a plurality ofmedia12 are stacked.
• Thereception mechanism41 which receives themedia12 in theintermediate stacker32 may not include themovable guide42 and the first puddles45. For example, thereception mechanism41 may be an absorbing transport belt which transports the medium12 absorbed thereon. As an absorption method of the absorbing transfer belt, negative pressure, static electricity, or the like may be used. In this case, the absorbing transfer belt may receive the medium12 by absorbing the medium12 discharged from thetransport mechanism30 in the first transport direction Y0 toward an upper position of theintermediate stacker32, transporting the medium12 to the upper position of theintermediate stacker32, and forcibly peeling off the medium12 from the belt by cancelling the absorption or using a movable guide so as to drop off the medium12 onto the stackingsurface32A. Alternatively, after the medium12 absorbed on the absorbing transfer belt is transferred in the first transport direction Y0, a movement direction of the belt is reversed so that the medium12 is transported in a switchback manner in the second transport direction which is opposite to the first transport direction Y0. Then the medium12 is peeled off from the absorbing transfer belt while the medium12 is transported in the second transport direction or the absorption of the medium12 is cancelled so that the medium12 is dropped on the stackingsurface32A. The stackingsurface32A may receive the medium12 in this way.
• The post-processing may be performed on asingle medium12 instead of themedium bundle12B.
• The maintenance may be performed once a plurality of times the post-processing is performed. Note that the flushing is preferably performed with a time interval smaller than the flushing interval time TI1 in the normal mode. Furthermore the cleaning is preferably performed with a time interval smaller than the cleaning interval time in the normal mode.
• Therecording apparatus13 may be a serial printer instead of the line printer. Therecording apparatus13 in a serial printer records an image or the like on the medium12 by discharging liquid from thenozzles24 of theliquid ejection head25 on the medium12 intermittently transported in the first transport direction Y0 which intersects with the width direction X while the carriage including theliquid ejection head25 reciprocates in the width direction X. When the maintenance time is reached during the recording operation, the carriage is moved to a home position set in an end of a movement path and discharges liquid from thenozzles24 toward the cap of the maintenance apparatus disposed beneath the carriage located in the home position so that the flushing (the preliminary ejection) is performed. Furthermore, when a suction pump is driven in a state in which the cap is in contact with theliquid ejection head25 in the home position so that negative pressure is generated in the cap, liquid is forcibly sucked and discharged from thenozzles24 so that the cleaning is performed. Thepost-processing apparatus14 which receives the recorded medium12 from the serialtype recording apparatus13 directly or through theintermediate apparatus15 includes themedium processing apparatus31. In this way, therecording system11 including therecording apparatus13 and themedium processing apparatus31 is configured. Themedium processing apparatus31 includes the intermediate stacker32 (an example of a medium stacking section) and a processor. The processor executes the post-processing as an example of processing performed on themedium bundle12B stacked on theintermediate stacker32 after one of themedia12 which is last recorded before the maintenance is stacked on theintermediate stacker32.
• Theintermediate apparatus15 may be eliminated in therecording system11. Specifically, therecording system11 may include only therecording apparatus13 and thepost-processing apparatus14. Furthermore, thereverse processing section200 of theintermediate apparatus15 may be incorporated in thepost-processing apparatus14. In this case, thepost-processing apparatus14 causes theintermediate stacker32 to receive the medium12 which is supplied from therecording apparatus13 and reversed in thepost-processing apparatus14 before performing the post-processing. Furthermore, thereverse processing section200 of theintermediate apparatus15 may be incorporated in therecording apparatus13. In this case, thepost-processing apparatus14 causes theintermediate stacker32 to receive the medium12 which has been transported from therecording apparatus13 and reversed before performing the post-processing.
• The medium processing apparatus may not be accommodated in thepost-processing apparatus14. A recording system including therecording apparatus13 and themedium processing apparatus31 which are accommodated in the same case may be employed. For example, the recording system may be configured by accommodating themedium processing apparatus31 in the case of therecording apparatus13. Furthermore, the recording system may be configured by accommodating thereverse processing section200 and themedium processing apparatus31 in the case of therecording apparatus13. Themedium processing apparatus31 may be accommodated in theintermediate apparatus15. In this way, the medium processing apparatus may be employed in all the recording apparatus, the post-processing apparatus, the intermediate apparatus, and the recording system.
• The medium12 is not limited to paper and may be a film or a sheet of synthetic resin, fabric, non-woven fabric, or a laminated sheet.
• Therecording apparatus13 may be an ink jet type printing apparatus instead of the ink-jet type printer. Furthermore, therecording apparatus13 may be a multifunction peripheral having a scanner function and a copy function, in addition to the print function.
• Hereinafter, a technical scope recognized according to the foregoing embodiment and the modifications will be described with effects.
• A method for controlling a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by a recording apparatus are stacked, the recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The method includes executing the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed is stacked on the medium stacking section.
• With this configuration, the post-processing apparatus may perform the process utilizing the blank time in which the medium is not transported since the maintenance is performed on the recording apparatus, and therefore, the productivity is improved. Furthermore, the transport of the medium which is last recorded before the maintenance may be continuously performed even during the maintenance. Accordingly, a temporal loss caused by a stop of the transport of the recorded media during the maintenance may be suppressed or reduced. Consequently, the productivity is improved when compared with the general configuration in which the maintenance and the process are simultaneously performed. Consequently, the process may be performed using the blank time in which the medium is not transported since the maintenance is performed, while stop of the transport of the recorded media during the maintenance is avoided.
• A method for controlling a recording system including a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked, and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The method includes executing the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed is stacked on the medium stacking section.
• With this configuration, the post-processing apparatus may perform the process utilizing the blank time in which the medium is not transported since the maintenance is performed on the recording apparatus, and therefore, the productivity is improved. Furthermore, the transport of the medium which is last recorded before the maintenance may be continuously performed even during the maintenance. Accordingly, a temporal loss caused by a stop of the transport of the recorded media during the maintenance may be suppressed or reduced. Consequently, the productivity is improved when compared with the general configuration in which the maintenance and the process are simultaneously performed. Accordingly, inconvenience in productivity caused by the stop of the transport of the recorded media during the maintenance may be avoided.
• In the method for controlling the recording system, the maintenance may be started before the medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed reaches the medium stacking section.
• With this configuration, the blank time in which the medium is not transported to the post-processing apparatus since the recording operation is temporarily stopped due to the maintenance may be reduced, and accordingly, the productivity is improved.
• In the method for controlling the recording system, the maintenance may be executed in response to termination of the recording on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.
• With this configuration, the process may be performed at an appropriate timing every time a set target number of media are stacked on the intermediate stacker, and in addition, the process may be performed utilizing the blank time of the recording operation caused by the maintenance. In addition, the maintenance is performed with an interval time which is shorter than the predetermined maintenance interval time. Accordingly, deterioration of the ejection state of the liquid ejection head due to a delay of the maintenance may be suppressed.
• A method for controlling a recording system includes a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which performs maintenance of the liquid ejection head and a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked, and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The method includes executing the maintenance in response to termination of the recording on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.
• With this configuration, the process may be performed at an appropriate timing every time a set target number of media are stacked on the intermediate stacker, and in addition, the process may be performed utilizing the blank time of the recording operation caused by the maintenance. Furthermore, deterioration of an ejection state of the liquid ejection head caused by delay of the maintenance may be suppressed.
• In the method for controlling the recording system, when the maintenance is executed after the recording on the media are terminated, light maintenance in which the liquid ejection head ejects a smaller amount of liquid when compared with a case where the maintenance is executed with the maintenance interval time may be executed.
• With this configuration, consumption of the liquid may be suppressed while the maintenance is appropriately performed.
• In the method for controlling the recording system, the maintenance may be executed in accordance with the maintenance interval time when the processing interval time which is the interval of the process is longer than the predetermined maintenance interval time which is the interval of execution of the maintenance.
• With this configuration, deterioration of an ejection state of the liquid ejection head may be suppressed.
• In the method for controlling the recording system, as the maintenance performed by the maintenance section, preliminary ejection of ejecting liquid which does not relate to the recording from the liquid ejection head may be executed.
• With this configuration, deterioration of an ejection state of the liquid ejection head may be suppressed.
• In the method for controlling the recording system, as the maintenance performed by the maintenance section, cleaning for forcibly discharging liquid from the liquid ejection head may be executed.
• With this configuration, deterioration of an ejection state of the liquid ejection head may be suppressed.
• A post-processing apparatus includes a medium stacking section on which media recorded by a recording apparatus are stacked, the recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium and a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, a processor configured to execute a process on the media received by the medium stacking section, and a controller configured to control operation of the processor. The controller executes the process after a medium which is last recorded before the maintenance is performed is stacked on the medium stacking section.
• With this configuration, a blank time in which the medium processing apparatus may not perform processing since the maintenance is performed on the recording apparatus and a blank time in which the recording apparatus may not perform recording since the medium processing apparatus performs a process may be effectively utilized. For example, even if a long period of time is required for the recorded medium to reach the medium stacking section, the process may be executed on the media stacked on the medium stacking section effectively utilizing the blank time of the recording operation caused by the maintenance. Consequently, the productivity is improved when compared with the case where the maintenance and the process are simultaneously performed.
• A recording system includes a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium, a maintenance section which performs maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and a controller which controls operations of the maintenance section, and a medium processing apparatus including a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked and a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section. The controller executes the maintenance in response to termination of the recording performed on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.
• With this configuration, a blank time in which the medium processing apparatus may not perform processing since the maintenance is performed on the recording apparatus and a blank time in which the recording apparatus may not perform recording since the medium processing apparatus performs a process may be effectively utilized. For example, even if a long period of time is required for the recorded medium to reach the medium stacking section, the process may be executed on the media stacked on the medium stacking section effectively utilizing the blank time of the recording operation caused by the maintenance. Consequently, the productivity is improved when compared with the case where the maintenance and the process are simultaneously performed.

Claims (6)

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a recording system including

a recording apparatus including a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium,

a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and

a medium processing apparatus that includes

a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked, and

a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section,

the method comprising:

executing the maintenance in response to termination of the recording on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.

2. The method for controlling the recording system according toclaim 1, wherein

when the maintenance is executed after the recording on the media are terminated, light maintenance in which the liquid ejection head ejects a smaller amount of liquid when compared with a case where the maintenance is executed with the maintenance interval time is executed.

3. The method for controlling the recording system according toclaim 1, wherein

the maintenance is executed in accordance with the maintenance interval time when the processing interval time which is the interval of the process is longer than the predetermined maintenance interval time which is the interval of execution of the maintenance.

4. The method for controlling the recording system according toclaim 1, wherein

as the maintenance performed by the maintenance section, preliminary ejection of ejecting liquid which does not relate to the recording from the liquid ejection head is executed.

5. The method for controlling the recording system according toclaim 1, wherein

as the maintenance performed by the maintenance section, cleaning for forcibly discharging liquid from the liquid ejection head is executed.

6. A recording system comprising:

a recording apparatus including

a liquid ejection head which performs recording by ejecting liquid to a medium,

a maintenance section which executes maintenance of the liquid ejection head, and

a controller which controls operations of the maintenance section; and

a medium processing apparatus including

a medium stacking section on which media recorded by the recording apparatus are stacked, and

a processor which executes a process on the media received by the medium stacking section, wherein

the controller executes the maintenance in response to termination of the recording on media included in targets of the process of one time when a processing interval time which is an interval of the process is shorter than a predetermined maintenance interval time which is an interval of execution of the maintenance.

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